Fujitsu Shows Off New SSD Notebooks

March 21, 2007: Solid state disk (SSD) technology is on a roll now, with Fujitsu announcing two new high-end laptops with flash memory drives as primary storage.

Aimed at industries such as health care, aviation and finance, the ultraportable LifeBook P1610 tablet and LifeBook B6210 come with 16GB and 32GB flash storage drives respectively. Not huge capacities, but more than enough for most professionals – particularly those with access to a SAN.

Both notebooks include touch screens and according to Fujitsu, enjoy greatly reduced power consumption, faster data access, more rapid boot times, and significantly reduced noise, heat and weight.

Until recently, cost has limited flash memory to small devices such as memory keys and mobile phones. However, due in no small part to consumer consumption of flash memory, plummeting prices have enabled storage companies to finally begin offering SSDs in high enough capacities to make them viable for everyday computing.

Fujitsu expects the technology to add US$700 to the cost of a notebook if a 16GB flash drive is included, while a 32GB drive will add US$1200. Still not cheap, but as the technology becomes more ubiquitous prices will plunge. CD and DVD burners were comparatively pricey when first launched.

Fujitsu is currently only offering SSD LifeBook’s to select customers, and even then those who are put off by the premium price can opt for a traditional hard disk instead.

Most likely though, reductions in power, weight and noise coupled with hefty speed increases and ruggedness will see these drives increasingly taken up by those who place a high premium on portability and performance.

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