Toshiba 256GB SSD In 2.5-inch Format

Tokyo-based Toshiba Corp. and its subsidiary, Irvine, Calif.-based Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., or TAEC, today announced enhancements to their line up of NAND-flash-based solid state drives (SSD) with the addition of an industry-leading 256-gigabyte SSD and the launch of small-sized Flash Modules for netbook computers, ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) and other mobile and peripheral applications. The new drives will be showcased at CEATEC in Makuhari, Japan, from September 30 to October 4.

Samples of both the 256GB SSD and the Flash Modules are available now, with mass production following in the fourth quarter (October to December) of the year.

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Toshiba's new high density SSD brings 256GB of capacity to a 2.5-inch drive form factor with an advanced Multi-level Cell (MLC) controller that achieves higher read-write speeds, parallel data transfers and wear leveling to optimize performance, reliability and endurance. Alongside this, Toshiba provides support for the growing market for small, netbook computers, UMPCs and other personal equipment with the launch of small SSD Flash Modules supporting 8GB, 16GB and 32GB densities.

The new 256GB SSD mounts NAND flash memory on a 70.6mm (L) x 53.6mm (W) x 3.0mm (H) platform. The drive offers performance characteristics essential for today's mainstream notebook PCs: highly reliable, high density data storage and support for fast data transfer rates, with a maximum read speed of 120MB per second and maximum write speed of 70MBps, via a SATA 3.0Gb per second interface.

Flash Modules are fabricated on a 50mm x 30mm platform, and offer maximum read and write speeds of 80MB and 50MB per second, respectively. Flash Modules are also compatible with the SATA interface and will support continued development of the fast growing market for netbook PCs, UMPCs and mobile and peripheral applications by offering developers a wider range of SSD for integration in differentiated products.

For more information on Toshiba SSDs, visit:
http://ssd.toshiba.com.

Toshiba recently lifted the curtain on its 2.5" 256GB SSD that targets UMPCs as well as other handheld devices, and that would lead me to wonder whether future iPhones will surpass the 100GB mark.

Heck, no point thinking about that when the current iPhone 3G won't even venture beyond 16GB. Users will be able to glean read and write speeds of 120MB/s and 80MB/s, respectively with this new 256MB SSD. Measuring a mere 3mm in thickness, it connects to your computer via a 3Gbps SATA connection.