Datasheet

yield rates improve; but with the leap in density provided by perpendicular recording,
micro drives are likely to keep their cost advantage for the rest of the decade. Figure 5 is
an estimate of costs per gigabyte of NAND flash compared to the estimates for the 1-inch
HDD (hard disc drive) for the next few years. The trend in more capacity at lower cost for
both media continues as it has for years.
The real advantage flash media have over most other storage media is that they are solid-
state—no moving parts. There are no alignment problems; no motors to act up; no
bearings that need lubrication. Flash media fall and withstand shocks up to 2,000 Gs of
force without damage. Micro drives can actually withstand the same shock forces lasting
as long as 1 millisecond—as long as they are not operating. They are far more delicate
when spinning their discs: the shock rating drops to 200 Gs for a period of 2 milliseconds.
1” HDD Cost Versus Flash
Twice the Capacity for the Same Cost
1
10
100
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
0.1
Cost ($/GB)
Flash Cost Estimate
1.0” HDD Cost
Flash cost projected to exceed
Moore’s law in the short term.
Sustainable?
1” HDD maintains 2X
$$/GB advantage through
2009
Mini HDD Cost per GB will continue to be ½ of that for Flash Memory
Figure 5
Micro Drive vs. UFD
Advantages
Micro USB Hard Drive USB Flash Drive (UFD)
 No moving parts
 More reliable—2000G shock
resistance even when
operating
 Less power consumption
 More portable
 Smaller, lighter construction
 Availability in capacities up to 4GB
 Increasing affordability
 Rapid popularity in mass market
 50% lower cost per GB
 Larger capacities up to 8GB
 15GB by late 2006
 Perpendicular recording will
increase cost/GB advantage
 Best for high capacity users
 Stable cost due to technology
 More susceptible to damage
 200G shock resistance
(operating)
 2000G shock resistance
6
(non-operating)
 Less portable
 greater size and weight
 Greater power consumption
 Requires standard air pressure
 Higher price per GB
 Capacities over 4GB are
Disadvantages
expensive and impractical
 Availability issues due to NAND
shortage