Intel SSD squeezes into sub-notebook sizes

Hear the pitter-PATA of tiny feats

By Chris Mellor at Blocks and Files • Get more from this author

4th June 2008 07:40 GMT

Intel's new Z-P230 solid state drive (SSD) is positioned as a smaller and lighter replacement for 1.8in hard disk drives in Small, Cheap Computers.

It comes in 4 and 8GB capacity points with a 16GB version arriving in Q4 this year.

The device has a standard 40-pin ZIF parallel ATA (IDE) system interface and measures 54 x 38 x 4mm, which is a quarter of the volume of a standard 1.8in hard disk drive. It weighs 10g. The power draw is 1.65mW when idle and 314mW when operating.

The 1.8in hard drive market is being attacked by Intel, TDK and SanDisk. It's going to be a fiercely competitive market, and system OEMs should face energetic SSD sales people.