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by
Zsolt Kerekes, editor
StorageSearch.com |
SSDs which are compatible with
the ExpressCard specification are
just one of several ways of getting solid state disks inside notebooks.
The size and user value propositions for the
notebook SSD
market opportunity were described in the
SSD market
adoption model (published in 2005).
Depending on the size of the
notebook, other SSD options include:-
- 1.0"
SSDs - which also includes motherboard soldered SSD chips and modules.
What
really distinguishes the ExpressCard SSD market, however, is that it's the easiest
way for users to perform an SSD upgrade on their notebooks. The other
mentioned methods (which are significantly higher volume markets) tend to be
done by the oem who made the notebook.
Several manufacturers have
introduced dual interface SATA
+ USB SSDs - to simplify
user upgrades. This involves transferring the data image from the internal hard
drive onto the target SSD using USB - and then replacing the HDD with its SSD
clone. But I expect that in the long term - ExpressCard will be the most
popular choice for end-user SSD notebook upgrades. The reasons?
- there's less to go wrong, and
- the whole process is quicker
The main disadvantage of ExpressCard
SSDs is that they are nearly always much slower than the available
alternatives.
The ExpressCard interface and form factor is a logical
descendant / inheritor of PCMCIA
which provided internal expansion slots in earlier generations of portable PCs,
phones and other mobile systems.
The 1st mention of "ExpressCard
SSDs" - here on StorageSearch.com
was June 2007 by
a company called Cenatek.
This page also includes a vendor list and extracts from SSD news
related to ExpressCard SSDs. |
| . |
June 2009
PhotoFast launched
the fastest ExpressCard
- the G-Monster Express card 54. Initially for the Japanese market. R/W speeds
are 180MB/s and 100MB/s respectively.
Version 2.0 of
ExpressCard - will be 10x faster than the previous version. This is
being done to help grow the market for
ExpressCard SSDs.
March 2009
Pretec Electronics is
sampling a 128GB ExpressCard SSD for the notebook market with 38/30MB/s R/W
speeds and hardware encryption. Volume shipments are expected next month.
January 2009
PQI launched a 32GB
ExpressCard SSD with 88MB/s read speed, and 48MB/s write.
Verbatim said it will
ship a 64GB ExpressCard SSD in February (price $299.99 ) with read speed upto
125MB/s, and write speed upto 30MB/s. |
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SSD Market - past
12 months summary
SSD Market -
30 Years Market History | |
... |
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Megabyte knew the ideal
storage for
road warriors. Light on the arms!
Light on the wallet. | |
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