Do you think Apple will discontinue the 16GB?

[MikhailT]

Your lack of knowledge is showing. How does Intel get 40/80GB for its SSDs?

The controller uses 5, 10 (and 20 in the future) NAND flash memory chips at a time.

64GBit (8GB) x 5 = 40GB
64GBit (8GB) x 10 = 80GB
128GBit (16GB) x 10 = 160GB

Thats how the X25-V/X25-M get their storage.

Many SSDs have wear leveling algorithm that reserves some of the NANDs that's not usable directly for the users.

This is what's the table look like for Sandforce controller based enterprise SSDs using 20% reserved provisioning plus 7% for GB>GiB.

Advertised, Total Flash, Useable Flash (GiB)
50GB, 64GB, 46.6GB
100GB, 128GB, 93.1GB
200GB, 256GB, 186.3GB
400GB, 512GB, 372.5GB

Customer SSD based is 13%,

60GB,64GB,55.9GB
120GB,128GB,111.8GB
240GB,256GB,223.5GB
480GB,512GB,447.0GB

Intel has some of flash reserved as well, around ~7%.


Anyway, I don't think Apple will discontinue 16GB. They'll have 16/32/64GB models. They discontinued the 3G 8GB, which could leave 3GS 16GB as the entry model.

 

[slippery-pete]

I think the 16 will stay and a 64 will be added this year.

 

[Dwalls90]

Your lack of knowledge is showing. How does Intel get 40/80GB for its SSDs?

The controller uses 5, 10 (and 20 in the future) NAND flash memory chips at a time.

64GBit (8GB) x 5 = 40GB
64GBit (8GB) x 10 = 80GB
128GBit (16GB) x 10 = 160GB

Thats how the X25-V/X25-M get their storage.

Don't ask me, I just know that Intel is one of the many suppliers that has SSD's that have their drives in 20/40Gb increments. One spot of evidence:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0636 50001157&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

No need to be so critical ... especially when you're incorrect.

 

[thelatinist]

The cost of SSDs small enough for use in an iPhone would be prohibitive. As it is the NAND flash is one of the most expensive components in an iPhone.

As for whether they will discontinue the 16 GB, I doubt it. I think that the HD will come in 16 and 32 GB sizes for $199 and $299 respectively, perhaps with a $99 16 GB 3GS as an entry-level model. My guess is that Apple would prefer to go entirely to the HD, but that AT&T might want to keep a cheaper entry-level model to get people hooked.

Whether there will be a 64 GB model depends entirely on the price of Toshiba's 64GB chip.

 

[redrog]

Since there are no 64GB NAND chips to allow Apple to double the storage size this time around......

Why do people keep saying this?

 

[oHai]

To echo a lot of replies - I can see:

$99 16GB 3GS
$199 16GB 4G
$299 32GB 4G

This makes the most sense given their current lineup. However, (just speaking from personal experience), I don't know anyone that opted for the old 3G this year just to save $100 initially, since the cost of ownership is pretty much the same. So maybe if those numbers aren't convincing, they'd drop the $99 model entirely. As some have mentioned, the 3GS/4G aesthetic difference would be really pronounced this year.

Regarding a 64 GB high-end one, I don't know. I think the price of 64 GB chips would be too expensive to keep the price at $299. And I think Apple would much rather keep prices the same than add more storage at this point. Generally, consumers are much more aware of price than specific features.

 

[Dwalls90]

They won't recycle the 3GS as the Entry-level model. They could get away with it before because the 3G and 3GS had an identical chassis ... I would expect the entry-level model to retain the new case, but the 16Gb capacity will stay the same (especially since the new chassis was spotted sporting 16Gb capacity ...)

 

[thelatinist]

Why do people keep saying this?

Because Toshiba's 64GB chip only recently went into mass production and people doubt that it will be available in sufficient quantities or at a low enough price point to make a 64 GB phone viable.

 

[Geckotek]

Because Toshiba's 64GB chip only recently went into mass production and people doubt that it will be available in sufficient quantities or at a low enough price point to make a 64 GB phone viable.

Here's a thought, they launch w/ the high end being 32GB, but announce a 64GB for the holidays. After they've given the 64GB chip time to work out the kinks, get enough stock, and come down in price.

 

[Geckotek]

Don't ask me, I just know that Intel is one of the many suppliers that has SSD's that have their drives in 20/40Gb increments. One spot of evidence:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0636 50001157&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

No need to be so critical ... especially when you're incorrect.

The iPhone does not use an SSD drive. It uses the NAND chips themselves. You can't compare a fully featured SSD drive to the iPhone, so stop trying.

 

[Sneakz]

Don't ask me, I just know that Intel is one of the many suppliers that has SSD's that have their drives in 20/40Gb increments. One spot of evidence:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0636 50001157&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

No need to be so critical ... especially when you're incorrect.

But I wasn't incorrect.

That image is from Anandtech. You can see 10 NAND flash memory chips, the big square with the "i" is the controller and the smaller rectangle is the DRAM.

 

[elephunkman]

To echo a lot of replies - I can see:

$99 16GB 3GS
$199 16GB 4G
$299 32GB 4G

This makes the most sense given their current lineup. However, (just speaking from personal experience), I don't know anyone that opted for the old 3G this year just to save $100 initially, since the cost of ownership is pretty much the same. So maybe if those numbers aren't convincing, they'd drop the $99 model entirely. As some have mentioned, the 3GS/4G aesthetic difference would be really pronounced this year.

Regarding a 64 GB high-end one, I don't know. I think the price of 64 GB chips would be too expensive to keep the price at $299. And I think Apple would much rather keep prices the same than add more storage at this point. Generally, consumers are much more aware of price than specific features.

This pricing lineup makes sense because Apple has to keep a lower end model for customers who want a lower end model and do not really need the higher end ones. Just like How the Blackberry 8900 is available, but there is always the Bold to buy.