The future of data storage looks good :)

Hard disk drives are clearly and eventually on their way out. The future of data storage is blindingly fast transfer speeds in a slim form factor and some such devices have already started to make their way into the market. They are the opposite of cheap :) but it's early days yet and prices should drop.

Here are two mouthwatering devices featured on Engadget

1) The OCZ Enyo USB 3.0 portable SSD






A solid state drive housed in aluminium casing and running on SuperSpeed USB 3.0, this one is a beauty cruising at top-speed. Imagine being able to take a 256 GB backup in 12 minutes, or transfer 16 GB in 53 seconds (transfer times claimed on the site).




It comes in 64/128/256 GB sizes priced at USD 300, 400 and 800 respectively

2) The Supertalent SuperCrypt USB 3.0 USB drive

Reviewed favorably and in detail on PC Perspective last month, this small USB key apparently delivered average read and write speeds of 185MB / sec and 50MB / sec respectively as reported on engadget. It also costs more than a SSD (Solid state drive) coming in at $119 for 16 GB and upwards.



Incidentally, both these devices run on USB 3.0,(SuperSpeed USB) which is the next major revision of the USB interface. The revision promises enhanced read/write (data transfer) speeds upto 4.8 Gbps (wow!) on high speed Gigabit ports of new devices.

If you are interested in knowing more about USB 3.0, read this extensive FAQ on EverythingUSB. To summarise just some of the points in this FAQ:

1. USB 3.0 will not replace USB 2.0 (the current interface) for a long time to come and will be fully backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports
2. Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 will support USB 3.0, through future updates, and possibly Vista will as well. Linux will also definitely support it.
3. The technology will be applied for external hard drives (including RAID), flash drives and Solid State Drives, storage docks, Blu-ray optical drives, high-end notebooks, and PCI Express/ExpressCard. Video applications will also take advantage of high speed USB.
4. Currently there are still a few wrinkles to iron out (and I am quoting from the everythingusb post):

To paint an accurate picture, not everything in USB 3.0 is a clear improvement. Cable length, for one, is expected to have a significant limitation when used in applications demanding the highest possible throughput. Although maximum cable length is not specified in the USB 3.0 specification, the electrical properties of the cable and signal quality limitations may limit the practical length to around 3 metres when multi-gigabit transfer rates are desired. This length, of course, can be extended through the use of hubs or signal extenders. Additionally, some SuperSpeed USB hardware, such as hubs, may always be more expensive than their USB 2.0 counterparts. This is because by definition, a SuperSpeed hub contains 2 hubs: one that enumerates as a SuperSpeed hub, and a second one that enumerates as a regular high-speed hub. Until the USB hub silicon becomes an integrated SuperSpeed USB + Hi-Speed USB part, there may always be a significant price difference.

Despite the prohibitive pricing today, I am pretty gung-ho about this new technology and the implications it has for data storage in the future.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 25, 2010 at 9:12 AM

    I can see a definite use for high speed high capacity portable drives. I will carry all my applications(portable)and data with me and use any computer without fear of virus, security or data theft. This is a better option than cloud computing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anand SMay 25, 2010 at 11:19 PM

    in india the prices of external hard disk drives have come down. Seagate and Iomega are available in attractive colors

    ReplyDelete
  3. NishaMay 26, 2010 at 9:12 AM

    I agree that at least in India, high speed portable storage makes more sense than cloud computing. At least until we see better connectivity! Thanks for commenting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. NishaMay 26, 2010 at 9:15 AM

    Hey Anand, I too have seen the prices of Ext. HDDs come down, but nowhere near as much as flash memory. Flash USB drives are at least 100% cheaper compared to 4 years ago. HDDs have dropped price more slowly and just plateaued.
    Incidentally Lacie and other manufacturers are also offering new HDDS with USB 3.0 for lightning fast transfer. The power efficiency of USB 3.0 will also mean that no external power supply will be needed with these hard drives

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FastTAG woes on Mumbai Pune Expressway

Image
Since December 1, 2017, it has been made mandatory for all vehicles sold in India to have a FASTag fitted on the windscreen, either by the manufacturer, or an authorized dealership at the time of sale. The FASTag is a simple to use, rechargeable tag which enables automatic deduction of tolls at toll plazas across the country. The Tag employs RFID technology and is linked to a prepaid account to facilitate recharge. You can link your FASTag to your PayTM, ICICI or HDFC bank account, but will eventually be bank neutral. The FASTag is being promoted actively in India by multiple agencies including NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and the Indian Highways Management company. Currently it is claimed that FASTag is operational at 400 toll plazas in state and national highways. In a bid to increase adoption, the NHAI recently made FASTags available through petrol pumps. There are obviously multiple benefits of FASTag for a motorist – a faster, more convenient way to p
Read more

5 budget MP3 players to replace your iPod Nano

Image
With Apple finally discontinuing the Nano and Shuffle in 2017, three years after killing the iPod Classic, many people felt that the MP3/DAP (Digital Audio Player) era was finally coming to an end.  The short answer – it’s not true. Unlike the compact Digital Camera which has died a natural death, bowing to the equivalent (or increasingly, better) cellphone camera, Digital Audio Players have survived the onslaught of smartphones. They are no longer as cool as the Walkman and Discman were amongst an earlier generation of youngsters, but they are staples amongst a small but passionate community of audiophiles. Even Apple has chosen to retain the iPod Touch in its product lineup, with options of 32GB or 128 GB capacity. Quite a few friends have pinged me after the demise of Apple’s mid-priced and budget priced DAP offerings, asking for alternatives. Here is a list of products that you can look at, across price points. Do note, that the devices listed here are Nano/Shuf
Read more

Google Map and confusions on Indian Highways

Image
I rely 100% on Google Maps for accuarate navigation within the city, whether its my home town commuting, or a walk to nearby restaurants when I am a tourist in a new place. This year, when my family and I made two long road trips, covering nearly 4000 km in the span of a few days, I naturally turned to my old ally to plan the journey. This is a big transition compared to our earlier journey planning. I still have the physical maps (anyone remember map of Maharashtra? South India?) that we used in my school days to plan trips. Dad and I would trace the routes, calculate the distance and then write down in a notebook where we would make a halt each day. Against each day, we would also write down the petrol consumption, mileage and expenses. Of course, life does not operate according to a map. We still needed to check signboards, ask people when we got lost and take Uturns because we went down the wrong road. Does this change because of Google Maps? Actually, it does
Read more