News Bits: $300 SSD, More Laptop Batteries Available Soon, Windows XP SP3 Officially Here

Super Talent launches new SSDs up to 120GB

Super Talent today introduced a new line of MasterDrive Solid State Disks (SSDs). SSDs use NAND flash memory and are faster, lighter, and more durable than traditional hard drives. The MasterDrive SSDs have a SATA 3.0Gbps interface and a standard 2.5-inch form factor.

There are two versions of the MasterDrive, the MX and the DX. The specifications and prices are listed in the following table:

MasterDrive MX	Size - Memory Type - Max Read/Write Speeds	Price
FTM20GK25H	120GB - MLC - 120/40 MB/sec	$699
FTM60GK25H	60GB - MLC - 120/40 MB/sec	$449
FTM30GK25H	30GB - MLC - 120/40MB/sec	$299
MasterDrive DX
FTD60GK25H	60GB - SLC - 120/70 MB/sec	$1299
FTD30GK25H	30GB - SLC - 120/70MB/sec	$699

The MX drives use MLC flash memory with maximum sequential read and write rates up to 120 and 40MB/s respectively. The higher-end DX drives use SLC flash memory with faster 120 and 70MB/s maximum sequential read and write rates respectively. The MasterDrive SSDs are now available through Newegg and eWiz.

Super Talent Press Release

Notebook battery shortage to end by Q3

The current laptop battery shortage caused by a fire at LG's South Korea Chem plant in March should end by the third quarter of this year. Demand for notebook computers is skyrocketing, and notebook makers including ASUSTek have said the battery shortage will affect their shipments this year. Smaller notebook companies will be affected first by the battery shortages since larger companies are usually serverd first.

Full Story (Yahoo.com)
Via (Engadget.com)

Taiwan notebook maker shipments up 41% on year in Q1

Taiwan-based notebook makers saw their shipments rise 41% on-year in the first quarter of 2008. The top four makers were Quanta Computer (8 million units), Compal Electronics (6.1 million), Wistron (4.3 million), and Invented (3 million). Including first- and second-tier makers, about 26 million notebooks were shipped during the first quarter. If Eee PC shipments of 700,000 are counted, the total rises to 27.07 million units.

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

Huge increase in LED backlighting usage expected in 2H 2008

Backlighting unit (BLU) makers are expecting large increases in LED BLU shipments during the second half of this year. A 20% penetration rate for LED usage in notebooks is expected by the end of this year.

Full Story (DigiTimes.com)

XP SP3 hits Windows Update

Microsoft has made Service Pack 3 for Windows XP available on Windows Update. SP3 promises performance increases and some of the security features found in Vista.

Via (Engadget.com)

 

thx for news!

 

nice. cheaper ssd time to waste money again

 

i appreciate the news!!!!!

 

I think this is going to be the beginning an era of affordable SSDs. woot!

 

I agree....

Hdd's overall are also dropping in price. I saw Staples had a WD Cav. 500GB Int. SATA 3.0GB/sec on sale for $89.99 this week, along w/ a Maxtor 500GB OneTouch 4 USB Ext. for the same price. And I just picked up some Seagate 250GB Int. Sata 3.0GB/sec for $64.00 each for some desktops I'm building.

I can't wait for the SSD's to get just a little cheaper........

 

Yeah , HDD prices are dropping fast , you can get a 500gb 16mb cache drive for just £44 with free shipping!! WOW! And the 160gb drives are going for just £24.

(all SATA drives) I mean especially 2.5" drive's price is dropping , i can get a 250gb 2.5" for like £50 ,

 

Huh, they beat Mtron's expected Mobi 1000 to the punch... and it's even cheaper than what Mtron's low-budget SSD would have cost. Looks like the beginning of transitions from HDD's to SSD's.
Although I find it a bit odd that these are the first solid states not to have storage space that's a power of 2.

 

Can't wait for the Vaio TZ refresh. 128gb SSD plus 500gb Hdd = 600gb formatted capacity. Even if Sony don't put it in themselves at least I have a hope of putting them in myself, assuming there is a 1.8" 128gb SSD version from some manufacturer sometime soon. Drool!!!!. Thanks Super Talent for keeping the ball in play for reasonalby priced SSD's.

 

They could just be rounding capacity.

If SuperTalent wants to send me some for testing to find out; I'll be happy to report back

 

Its tempting to put my tax rebate into that $300 drive...but I'll wait until Mitron comes out with their answer to these drives to be sure.

Oh wait, no one seems interested in shipping a 1.8" ZIF socket drive...

 

Yah! SSD coming down