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Apple to Benefit Further from Dropping Flash Memory Pricing

It'll be a couple years before Flash drives might even begin to compete on price and size with those crappy mechanical drives.... and I can't wait.

Drive failure will reduce exponentially I bet. Electricity usage will probably decline. Noise will go way down.
 
Pugpuppydude said:
Question i know this is the wrong thread for this but how do SSDs compare to SATA ect.. spinning drives?
Click to expand...

In general, SSD's differences are said to be:

- Faster random reads (since it doesn't have to move a physical drive head around)
- Slightly slower sequential reads
- Slower writes
- Lower power draw
- Less likely to "crash"

In practice, the advantages don't seem to be dramatic at this time, though I think the most recent SSD benchs have been better.

arn
 
Moriarty said:
Well it's nothing new that flash drives are getting cheaper, faster, and higher capacity over time. But it will be several years yet before mechanical drives are supplanted in the consumer market, especially 3.5-inch drives.

As long as mechanical drives are cheaper and higher capacity than a flash drive, there will still be a market for them.
Click to expand...

That's true. I can get a 1tb internal mechanical for about $170 or lower (depending on brand) over at newegg.

I think there needs to be a little more improvements with flash drives before they become more common place:

1. Read/Write speeds (random and sequential).
2. Storage capacity - most people believe that 250gb should be the standard due to photos, music, and videos.
3. True reliability reviews over mechanical drives.

especially since most people are now replacing desktops with laptops.

What I think needs to happen, start using them in netbooks and lets see how long they last.
 
pismodude2 said:
32GB iPod Touch? $99.

128GB iPod Classic (w/flash memory & as thin as Touch)? $199

Eventually being able to afford more flash memory than you can fill? Priceless. :D
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking - 128GB SSD iPod Classic but it wouldn't be thinner as the 128G SSD in the macbookair is the same size as the 120GB drive (which are exactly the same in the Classic)

But - it would cost $749 (at least according to the $500 upgrade to the MacBook Air
 
I was just thinking about this the other day, after seeing an 8GB usb flash drive at Best Buy for only $29.99. And now they're making 16GB usb flash drives.

I'm sure Apple is profiting nicely from this decline in flash memory prices.
 
Cole Slaw said:
That's good news.
Apple will pass the savings on to the consumers in a year or two, I'd say.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Apples very positive cash flow will ensure that their R&D remains top class. That they can continue making bold, groundbraking, innovative business decisions (such as the Apple Stores - a revolution in retail) and that they remain a player in the cut-throat IT market.

Right now, Apple are selling something that no one else can match.
They charge for it.
Seems fair.
 
Lesser Evets said:
It'll be a couple years before Flash drives might even begin to compete on price and size with those crappy mechanical drives.... and I can't wait.

Drive failure will reduce exponentially I bet. Electricity usage will probably decline. Noise will go way down.
Click to expand...

And peace will reign on Earth for a thousand years.
 
Virtualball said:
I never understood how, at Microcenter, you can buy a 32 GB flash drive for $50 but can't buy a 32 Gb iPhone for $300...
Click to expand...

Well, unfortunately not all SSD drives are created equal. Some have terrible response times (and are usually the cheaper models). I read an interesting article from ArsTechnica once on it.
 
are there any chances they decrease the iphone prices soon?

such as eliminate the 8gb and drop th 16gb to 200 and add on a 32gb?

my plan ends on decemeber 7, probably wont happen then, but i wont feel good about it if they update it during the mac event thing in jan.
 
Rybold said:
I was just thinking about this the other day, after seeing an 8GB usb flash drive at Best Buy for only $29.99. And now they're making 16GB usb flash drives.

I'm sure Apple is profiting nicely from this decline in flash memory prices.
Click to expand...


Only one flaw to your pricing and storage capacity - check out newegg.com

Kingston DataTraveler Mini Slim 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) (Pink) Model DTMSN/8GB - Retail
Parts: Lifetime limited
Labor: Lifetime limited
Model #: DTMSN/8GB
Item #: N82E16820134825
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
Original Price: $23.99
You Save: $7.50
Your Price:$16.49

they have 4 at that price...

Now for storage (how about a 32 or 62 gb stick)...

CORSAIR Flash Voyager 64GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model CMFUSBHC-64GB - Retail
Features: Plug & Play functionality in Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME, Linux 2.4 and later, Mac OS 9, X and later Lanyard, USB cable Water Resistant Shockproof Plug-n-Play
Parts: Lifetime limited
Labor: Lifetime limited
Model #: CMFUSBHC-64GB
Item #: N82E16820233072
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Original Price: $199.99
You Save: $15.00

Your Price:$184.99
Mail-In Rebate : $20.00
Price after rebate(s):$164.9

Patriot Xporter XT 32GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model PEF32GUSB - Retail
Speed: 180X
Ready Boost: Yes
Windows Vista: Certified for Windows Vista
Features: Hi Speed USB 2.0 Compatible (backwards compatible to USB 1.1) Easy plug and play functionality Portable and lightweight Driverless in Windows ME/2K/XP, Mac OS 9.x, OS X Linux with USB storage support
Parts: Lifetime limited
Labor: Lifetime limited
Model #: PEF32GUSB
Item #: N82E16820220261
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Free Shipping
Your Price:$83.99
Mail-In Rebate : $20.00
Price after rebate $63.99

WOW $63.99, I paid that for a 2 gigger at the beginning of this year.

And what is even cooler - I saw a few netbooks advertised that have no drive at all. you just put in the USB stick with the OS you want to run :cool:
 
Soo bad timing....

im thinking of getting an ipod shuffle 1gb to go with my iphone, easy access to controls etc... bad time to get one ?? and is it worth it ? anyones opinion would be good .

Thanks

Todd
 
DesignFusion said:
im thinking of getting an ipod shuffle 1gb to go with my iphone, easy access to controls etc... bad time to get one ?? and is it worth it ? anyones opinion would be good .

Thanks

Todd
Click to expand...

1gb is not gonna hold much... But then again, I am still using my 15gb 2004 ipod antique. ipod were just updated, so.....
 
DesignFusion said:
im thinking of getting an ipod shuffle 1gb to go with my iphone, easy access to controls etc... bad time to get one ?? and is it worth it ? anyones opinion would be good.
Click to expand...

The Shuffle is a great product. I love the simplicity. For me It's a great supplement to my iPod Touch. It costs cose to nothing (1GB $49 - 2GB $69) so what are you waiting for... Go buy, you wont regret it.
 
Given the tradeoffs between SSD and conventional hard drives, would there be reason for Apple to use both flash drives and hard drives in a single computer, with the flash memory used as an extra level in the storage hierarchy or as a RAID-type mirror device? I'm talking about the possibility that suitable hardware and software could produce improved performance, for an additional expense, by relying on the advantages of both types of storage while letting each compensate for the disadvantages of the other.
 
Thanks...

flottenheimer said:
The Shuffle is a great product. I love the simplicity. For me It's a great supplement to my iPod Touch. It costs cose to nothing (1GB $49 - 2GB $69) so what are you waiting for... Go buy, you wont regret it.
Click to expand...

Its nice to have someones opinion... i reon id be ok with 240 songs because i use my macbookpro alot so i could just sync different playlists... as i say my iphone is great but awkward sometimes with the controls etc..

so i will get one lol silver or blue or red... it goes on lol thanks for the help :d
 
Wow! What a SECRET weapon! Who knew component prices fell? Why don't other computer makers user components that fall in price like Apple does? Brilliant!
 
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