Is this the end of traditional hard drives ?

SanDisk has just unveiled a solid-state storage solution that works in conjunction with a PC’s hard drive to store and launch the computer’s operating system and software applications. Presently the cost and size limitations of flash storage prohibit the complete replacement of traditional hard drives in PCs, but the new SanDisk Vaulter Disk offers the performance advantages of flash memory by tag-teaming with a PC’s existing hard drive. Both Vaulter and the hard drive are integrated into the PC and operate simultaneously, while maintaining a low cost per gigabyte.

SanDisk’s Vaulter Disk is a flash-based PCI Express module, both laptop and desktop computer manufacturers are able to harness the speed of embedded flash memory for frequently accessed files while continuing to use a spinning hard drive for bulk storage. The Vaulter Disk requires only enough memory to host the computer’s operating system and selected optional user data that is benefited by the faster access time using flash memory. The hard drive stores files, content and applications that do not require faster load times.

The SanDisk Vaulter Disk’s storage concept, for which patents have been applied speeds up data retrieval for boot and application load operations, as well as unexpected user access to new files giving a faster response time when a user randomly accesses many small files for repeated operations, such as opening applications.

The SanDisk Vaulter Disk will be offered to OEMs early next year in either 8 GB or 16GB. “This system solution brings SanDisk’s flash performance benefits to the price-sensitive consumer who needs high-capacity storage,” said Doreet Oren, SanDisk director of product marketing for the computing solutions division.

The manufacturer’s website is here.