Travelstar 7k320 7.2k rpm vs SSD $$$$

[Butthead]

Not ready for primetime, IMHO...SSD's. Still too expensive, and at the lower price range (MLC types), performance is just marginally better than a HD. Only, the relatively greater resistance to severe shock, and slightly better power consumption is in their favor...for that *huge* price differential and lower capacity. What's to like about SSD's? Maybe in 3 or 4 years priceerformance/capacity ratio will be closer to HDDs?

Hitachi unveils 2.5-in. [7.2k rpm] 320GB notebook hard drive

May 7, 2008 (Computerworld) Hitachi Global Storage Technologies today is set to unveil a 320GB mobile computer hard disk drive that offers 60% more capacity and requires some 25% less power than its year-old predecessor...

The device can run applications 12% faster than the Travelstar 7200 model it is replacing, said Larry Sweezey, director of consumer and commercial hard disk drives at the San Jose-based subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd.

The new mobile hard drive costs $220 and will ship before the end of the month, the company said.

http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/menuitem.57ddeb9b412fed7ac41d3814eac4f0a0/


Super Talent Announces 120 GB SSD For $650

With this slower, lower priced SSD, you get 40MBs write speeds, which is the slowest rate you'd get from the 1yr old 7k200 (according to storagereview.net tests), given much greater areal density of the 7k320, I would expect that drive to improve greatly over the 7k200, at reduced power consumption. Read's are still at the advantage of the SSD's, but can you really notice the difference in everyday use?