Essential Guide to Computer Data Storage: From Floppy to DVD, The

Solid-State Hard Disk Drives

These storage devices have the form-factors (2.5", 3.5", etc.) and the interface of a typical hard disk drive, but store data using solid-state memory technology. Since solid-state memory costs more than magnetic storage, solid-state drives are available in much smaller capacities (for example, for SanDisk FlashDrives, the maximum capacity is 1.2 GB).

There are different names used for this technology at the moment. Quantum, for example, calls the solid-state memory drive a “solid state disk” (SSD). SanDisk called it a FlashDrive. The solid-state drives are now available with the same most popular interfaces as used by the ordinary drives, namely, IDE and SCSI.

The main advantages of solid-state drives are summarized ...