Samsung say 32GB flash drive will go into Q1 and Q30 laptops

World’s first PCs embedded with a 32GB NAND flash-based solid state disk

23 May 2006 12:30 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Samsung Electronics will release the world’s first PCs embedded with a 32GB NAND flash-based solid state disk (SSD) the company has announced.

The Samsung Q1, an ultra-mobile computing device and the Q30, a 12.1-inch screen notebook PC, will be available in the Korean market from early June.

The SSD reads 300 per cent faster (53MB/s) and writes 150 per cent quicker (28MB/s) than normal hard drives. As a result, multiple application programs can operate simultaneously and large volumes of data can be edited and reproduced more efficiently.

According to Samsung, the results means that Microsoft Windows XP will boot up 25-50% faster on the SSD than on other drives.

Moreover, the typical 1.8-inch hard disk drive weighs around 50 grams; whereas the SSD is 20 to 30 grams lighter, depending on the package type.

The typical notebook PC will generate around 30dB of operating noise, while the Q30-SSD will operate in complete silence.

“PC models based on solid state disks have numerous advantages over traditional hard disk-based models. These include faster booting, greater durability, quieter operation, and increased battery life. The new Q30-SSD and Q1-SSD models are only the beginning. Samsung will continue to lead the market, introducing new portable PC models that bring these benefits to both consumers and enterprise users”, said Kim Hounsoo, Executive Vice President of the Computing Division of Samsung Electronics.

The retail price for the Q1-SSD will be KRW2.3 million (US$2,430), while the Q30-SSD will sell for KRW3.5 million (US$3,700).

No word as yet to when the Solid State Drives will be available in the UK.