1 TB USB Thumbdrives

[MrDoctor]

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/upgrades/how-to-fit-1tb-of-data-on-one-tiny-thumbdrive-153126
So basically Arizona state university has created a new type of solid state memory thats cheaper and can hold more then flash drives. They are schedule to go into production April 09. What are your thoughts on the new drives?

[Matterialize]

Awesome. I can't wait for the MP3 players and other portable devices that will use this. Sounds like a very huge leap.

And crucially, because it uses a new kind of nanotechnology, storage capacities will be much higher than anything we have today, for a tenth of the cost.

Wonder how much that 1 TB drive will cost?

[OoooF4LiFe]

In times like this, I can't even imagine technology improving at such a lower cost. As much as I don't want to believe it, I won't be suprised if they find "complications". Usually in retail, efficiency is second to profit.

It is a massive accomplishment nonetheless.

[Clerlic]

Holy fucking shit, that is more than all my current space!

[SODA]

This is going to be (if it is even true) $5000+ for at least 3 years.

[OoooF4LiFe]

I don't think it's going to be that much, but it's still going to be expensive as shit. Size, relatively new technology, and convience? Even if it is a tenth of the price to make, it's going to be pretty jacked.

[SODA]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609245

That is a 128 GB SSD for over $3000. If anything I would say $5000 is a low estimate.

[Starshot]

I'm getting a 1TB Internal hard drive probably today or tomorrow. But a thumb drive? That'd be insane for it's size. Damn.

[Beefynick]

Since I am studying chemistry I have been following the research they have been conducting using chemicals to store information (such as this drive from Arizona State). The problem with technology such as this is that it is susceptible to chemical change. Meaning if you get it in a room with too high of a concentration of a chemical (say methane) you will lose data. Basically, right now it is too unstable to hold date reliably, but in a few years when they expect the drives to be out they might be more stable.

[poematik14]

Awesome. I can't wait for the MP3 players and other portable devices that will use this. Sounds like a very huge leap.



Wonder how much that 1 TB drive will cost?

Heres some perspective- when 32GB flash drives came out last year, they were 1000 dollars. Now, they are around 300.

[hardcoresk8r69]

Heres some perspective- when 32GB flash drives came out last year, they were 1000 dollars. Now, they are around 300.

So what you're saying is that it will start out at 5000 and then drop significantly?

Doesn't change the fact that they will be 5000 at one point.

[4cE]

I'm still mostly curious about the price. If they can make these things rather inexpensively, then they can sell them at an affordable cost. I was thinking about buying more memory for my computer, but if these are cheap enough I'm will to wait till April to get a full TB of memory.

[Chaplin]

I'm still mostly curious about the price. If they can make these things rather inexpensively, then they can sell them at an affordable cost. I was thinking about buying more memory for my computer, but if these are cheap enough I'm will to wait till April to get a full TB of memory.
Yeah So am I. I think they will want them to appear to the public like they need them and so they will buy them. If you price them at 6000, 5000$, well, Who will buy them? Why not just get a Time Capsule, or xServe?

[GAGGLONE]

You also have to take into account that they are saying "is much cheaper and more efficient than flash". As poematik14 stated a 32gb came out at about $1000, and dropped to about $300. A 1TB drive is 31.25 times larger than the 32gb, making a rough guess, you'd have it at $31,250 buying as many 32gb drives. lets just say it prices at half that being "much cheaper", at $500 per 32gb, making the grand total $15,625. $5000 is very generous, and if it can be done for that, I'd shell out the cash if i had it.

[Clerlic]

They should also make it USB 3.0 compatible, since it's 10 times faster than 2.0.

[CharlieH]

I'm going to assume that was joke, but is there USB 3.0?

[ilovebrownies]

It's under development.

[Ox]

Not really all that practical to make something compatible with technology that doesn't exist yet.

[Hunnter]

Oh no doubt it will be USB3.0 compatible by the time this does come out and is actually affordable. (naturally, i expect there to be some problems that will hold this back a bit, it usually happens... so i just learned to accept this as a global truth. )

Still, i really want one.
It would solve a LOT of problems with portable devices, unless it eats a load of power.
A smaller version would be fantastic in that CherryPal laptop.

[Clerlic]

3.0 is supposed to come out later during this year, and it is said that devices supporting it will be in production in 09-10, just like that Thumbdrive up there. I suppose if they're thowing high-tech around, they might aswell include USB 3.0 to improve the bandwidth, it probably won't raise the price too much in comparison to the device itself. And since it's gonna cost a shitload of money, people who buy them, will also probably buy motherboards that have 3.0.

[FA5TeddyFEL5ON]

By the time this does come out, it will most likely start out around $800, but eventually drop to $350 at it's lowest. Look at how much 1GB used to cost 5 years ago and look at what it costs now. It's about 1/4 the cost it was 5 years ago, and if anything the cost to size ratio is decreasing at an accelerated rate. But don't expect this product to emerge till late 2009. I remember when wireless earbud headphones were in development at my dads company a couple years ago. If things had gone "according to plan" every person in America would have them, but instead the project is still in its early stages of development. Don't get your hopes up....

[Derelict]

Who the fuck would fill up an entire terabyte?!

[OoooF4LiFe]

The real question is who needs to carry around 1 TB of shit?

[Spastic]

With technology increasing files will most likely get bigger as well. Be it games, videos, or whatever.

[Indoctrine]

I'm glad USB 3 is coming out soonish... I wouldn't want to be transferring a couple of hundred gigs on USB 2.0.
They'd have to be backwards compatible like 2.0 as well, because only new computers will have USB 3.

[BKS]

So why wouldn't I just run everything off my thumbdrive, seeing as how it would have more memory than my actual computer.

[Indoctrine]

It'd be rather fun to try and speed up your system using Vista ReadyBoost with it... probably wouldn't work though.

[r0xx]

Who needs that much space? I do! I would be sweet to carry around your entire video and music collection in your pocket. I doubt the price will be that high, look what they did with the iPhone, it came out with an upgraded, better, faster version and it was almost half the price.

[Hunnter]

Honestly, the price really will be down to how fast they can produce them in mass quantities.
The way it works, and my slightly good knowledge of chemistry, it sounds like it could be done pretty reliably and quickly.

But, looking at the way it works, i have no clue how things are read from it.
And they will probably have to create some good error correction for this too (even if it is copper connections, a good knock on it could break a connection)
I'd expect the size to maybe be half of what they say.

[SquireGeorge]

Learn to read the article..

"And crucially, because it uses a new kind of nanotechnology, storage capacities will be much higher than anything we have today, for a tenth of the cost."

So say GAGGLONE is correct in his math, the drive is roughly 32 times bigger than the 32G drive. The drive at the 32G cost would be $31,250 x .10 (10%) = $3125 would probably be the estimated release price. Obviously it will drop from there.

[r0xx]

If you use that math then will I be able to buy a 2 gb thumbdrive for $1.00? I doubt it, we can only wait and see what happens.

Speaking of USB 3.0, peep this: http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/08/intel_makes_usb_30_specifications_available_to_oth er_companies_ends_drama.html

[SquireGeorge]

Pretty much, you can already by 2 gb drive for $10.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134043

I am assuming that the technology will not really be viable for them to make smaller drives so probably you will only see them in intervals of, say, 100 gb.