Intel has been demonstrating a new technology, codenamed Robson, out at the IDF show in Taipei today.
The technology isn't exactly rocket science. Instead of a hard drive, critical applications and files can be stored on a flash memory device attached to the system I/O. The flash memory can be anywhere from 64MB to 4GB. Obviously, a great application would be to install (at least parts of) the OS to flash, creating a system with a lightning fast boot time.
CNet has this to say:
"Potentially, notebook users could experience a longer battery life because the hard drive, which is spun by a motor, wouldn't have to work as hard.
While an Intel representative did not provide exact boot-up time comparisons, she said Robson will cut the amount of time it takes from when you hit the "on" button to when the PC can operate, the time it takes to go from a sleep state to an active state, and the time it takes to launch an application."
Apple has been quick to adopt flash for use in its iPod lines - the Nano is entirely flash. There also rumours that the next generation of PowerBooks will use entirely solid state storage - thus eliminating one of the major battery drains in notebooks, and also contributing to a much safer system, one which is far less likely to keel over from hard drive failure.
What do you make of the technology? Are we starting to get to the point where an entire OS and application suite can be installed in flash, just leaving hard drive storage for files? Drop by the News Forum and let us know your thoughts.
The technology isn't exactly rocket science. Instead of a hard drive, critical applications and files can be stored on a flash memory device attached to the system I/O. The flash memory can be anywhere from 64MB to 4GB. Obviously, a great application would be to install (at least parts of) the OS to flash, creating a system with a lightning fast boot time.
CNet has this to say:
"Potentially, notebook users could experience a longer battery life because the hard drive, which is spun by a motor, wouldn't have to work as hard.
While an Intel representative did not provide exact boot-up time comparisons, she said Robson will cut the amount of time it takes from when you hit the "on" button to when the PC can operate, the time it takes to go from a sleep state to an active state, and the time it takes to launch an application."
Apple has been quick to adopt flash for use in its iPod lines - the Nano is entirely flash. There also rumours that the next generation of PowerBooks will use entirely solid state storage - thus eliminating one of the major battery drains in notebooks, and also contributing to a much safer system, one which is far less likely to keel over from hard drive failure.
What do you make of the technology? Are we starting to get to the point where an entire OS and application suite can be installed in flash, just leaving hard drive storage for files? Drop by the News Forum and let us know your thoughts.
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