Intel Launches Tiny Solid-State Drive

Intel has announced a small, light solid-state drive (SSD), as well as technology to enable Windows to take better advantage of flash memory.The Z-P230 SSD is one-fourth the size and weight of a standard laptop hard disk and is available in 4GB and 8GB capacities, with a 16GB version on the way. The new drive is PATA-based (rather than the more usual SATA) and is intended for what the company calls "netbook and nettop" systems.

The chip company has also addressed the alleged limitations of Vista's ability to work with SSDs. Intel's Turbo Memory provides a "dashboard" that enables Windows users to choose applications or files to load into the flash-based Turbo Memory cache. The process is called "user pinning."The Inquirer, CNET