Why develop microdrives in the face of flash memory?

[kwo]

Hi everyone..

I've been wondering this and thought..., "Hey - I know those Anandtechers are full of ideas and facts about this stuff"

So, here's the post.

Is the following true or false?

1. microdrives have a higher theoretical storage capability.

2. microdrives have faster transfer rates than flash memory.

If neither of the above are true...or if the time is quickly approaching where the above will not be true..then why bother to develop microdrives?

In my simple way of thinking, and, yes, I emphasize 'simple'....I'd rather have a simple flash card as my main storage solution than something with tons if itty bitty working parts. It just seems like an inherently simpler technology...safer, not sensitive to magnetics, lower power requirements...etc.....

What are the failure rates between flash memory and microdrives like?

I'm just thinking, future wise, of having a computer about the size of a book...or smaller...filled with flash memory instead of hard drives, CDROM's, DVD's..etc... just little memory sticks that hold gigabytes of information....

OK, I'm prepared to be enlightened.....Thoughts?

Ran

 

[NutBucket]

I think the main thing was cost. At the time microdrives were introduced it was far more cost effective then solid state memory.

 

[Viper GTS]

1) I don't think there are DRAM chips dense enough to compete with MicroDrive's on a space/volume level, especially if you add cost.
2) Not sure on this, though it wouldn't surprise me - Flash is hideously slow.

Also, flash is fairly unreliable.

Viper GTS

 

[kwo]

Thanks already for the replies...

So, I'm getting a picture, from the replies, and This thread that flash memory has a very 'finite' lifespan related to the maximum # of read/writes before media failure.

What's the difference between flash memory and normal memory? As I understand, normal memory is quite reliable and can handle this without a problem. I know people who create ramdisks for the swap files..and never had a problem. As a matter fact, I did this at one time too...no probs for a year or so.

So, to summarize, the two main points against flash as of right now are:

1. finite lifespan
2. access times

I'd be surprised if these issues weren't overcome within the next few years..given what seems to be the chaotic pace of this technology right now. So, is that not true, and thus the need for microdrives?

Ran

 

[ggavinmoss]

Aren't there also power consumption issues?

-geoff

 

[ggavinmoss]

Aren't there also power consumption issues?

-geoff

 

[kwo]

In terms of power consumption....I would think the hard drives would lose out......not sure, of course...

Rann

 

[Doggiedog]

Flash memory degrades everytime you write and erase so it has a limited lifespan.

Dunno. Could be a factor.

 

[0roo0roo]

years ago, rio 32mb flash mem mp3 player came out. years later we still only have maybe 128-256mb at slightly reasonable price levels. 4gb ipods are out that are just as small, a 4gb flash mem player would cost many times more.

 

[Bassyhead]

solid state memory costs much more

 

[BaboonGuy]

no moving parts?