Thursday, December 11, 2008

Making the switch: HDD to SSD

Solid state drives aren't new technology by any means, flash drives have been around for years but they are still not main stream.  The first SSDs burst onto the scene when Apple introduced the MacBook Air with the option of a SSD.  However today, I am using a 250 GB, 5400 RPM Fujitsu hard disk drive longing to use a SSD.  Why is this?  First:  speed.  With no moving parts the solid state drives are much faster than standard HDDs.  The RAM can access the information on the drive much more quickly making for faster boot times and starting up applications. Second:  they run cooler.  SSDs with no moving parts also run much cooler prolonging the life of your notebook.  Finally:  battery life.  With no moving parts SSDs can prolong the life of your battery.  So with all the pros for switching, why not?  COST.  These drives are expensive.  The cheapest SSD you can buy that has comparable memory to a 250 GB HDD is over $500!  Hopefully this high price tag will come down soon so SSDs can make their way into the pages of computer history and I can start using one!