Active Media Sabertooth S4 Series SSDs For Your ASUS Eee PC
ASUS netbooks from back in the day used relatively small SSDs, and if you got into netbooks early yours might is probably chock full of data by now. Luckily, Active Media Products’ new line of upgrade SSDs will offer better performance and more storage.
The new SSDs are part of the SaberTooth S4 series – an update to the SaberTooth S3 series – which will be compatible with early ASUS netbooks like the S101, 900, 900A, 901, and 1000 Eee PCs. Any netbook with mini PCIe card storage and a SATA-II interface should work fine.
The netbook SSDs come in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB varieties. They’re rumored to last longer due to a wear leveling algorithm and come with read speeds of up to 130 MB/second and writing of up to 50 MB/second.
It all sounds great so far, though in our experience SSDs with such high capacity can be costly, so do your research.
Via SlipperyBrick.
Active Media Netbook SSDs for HP Mini 1000 Released
Though the HP Mini 1000 is history, replaced by the snazzier HP Mini 110 netbook, SSD manufacturer Active Media apparently didn’t get the memo. It’s releasing a line of SSDs designed for the HP Mini 1000, coming in both 16 and 32 GB.
The modules are a slim 54 mm x 32 mm. They have a PATA ZIF connector, perfect for upgrading the HP Mini 1000. Read and write speeds are 82 MB/sec and 38 MB/sec, respectively.
The 16 GB SaberTooth Z SSD goes for $70 at Amazon, with its 32 GB brother on sale for $110.
Via TweakTown.
RunCore Announces Massive SSDs for Netbooks
RunCore is working on a new batch of SSDs for the netbook market, helping to alleviate the pain of slower, smaller hard drives on the diminuitive computers.
The SSDs are meant to replace hard disk drives, and range from 32 GB to 256 GB. The standard HDD is 160 GB, but some consumers may even downgrade in order to achieve the improved stability and durability of solid-state drives.
The Pro IV SSDs come in 1.8″, 2.5″, and PCI-E form factors. All sizes will come in SATA and PATA versions.
These new storage solutions are pretty expensive, running from $179.99 for a 32 GB drive to $899.99 for the 256 GB. However, RunCore hopes buyers won’t be too bogged down by the price tag when choosing the faster, more durable drives.
Via UberGizmo.
Samsung’s SATA Netbook SSD Plans
Samsung is running a SATA-interface mini SSD by some customers in hopes of having an SSD line ready for market.
The new SATA SSD will expand the use of the card from simply being a storage medium to being a complementary drive to boost the performance of dual drive PCs and netbooks. Sounds a lot like the manufacturer has its hopes set on a MSI Wind U115 Hybrid-type machine in the new future.
Samsung’s SSD is going to be rugged, a main selling point of solid state drives over hard disk drives, which have moving parts.
Via EETAsia.
New Ubuntu Linux Dell Mini 10 Netbook Gets HD, SSD, Battery Upgrades
Dell is giving Linux users a bit of attention with a new announcement this week. The Dell Mini 10 netbook is gaining new options, including an SSD and Ubuntu Linux as an OS.
With these new options, the updated Dell Mini 10 will cost $399. A 32 GB SSD is $75, and a 64 GB SSD will cost you $125.
Other updates include a 15$ 3-cell battery that gets you 25% more battery life than the old version. Curiously enough, the Ubuntu Dell Mini 10’s display can be upgraded to a 1366 x 768 HD screen, which for some reason isn’t offered for XP versions.
Regardless, Linux users are sure to be pleased by the new updates. Dell is notable for offering its netbooks in a lot of varieties, and this latest development is right in line with that philosophy.
Via I4U.
OCZ Announces New Netbook SSDs
The makers of the do-it-yourself OCZ Neutrino netbook are back in action, delivering a new range of mini PCI-Express SSDs specifically designed to boost netbook capability.
SSDs are more durable and cooler than their moving-parts-included alternatives, hard-disk drives. The tradeoff is that they’re more expensive and often carry too little space to be useful.
OCZ is intending to change that, delivering its new netbook drives in 16 GB and 32 GB versions. The netbooks will come in both SATA and PATA, with the previous being the faster at 110MB/s read and 51 MB/s writing speed. The PATA does 45 MB/s and 35 MB/s respectively.
Pricing and availability are unknown for the time being, but we’ll be looking out for when they are.
Intel Ditches Z-P230 Netbook SSDs
A recent product change notification by Intel signaled the demise of the Z-P230 netbook solid-state drives, an item with no known successor to its name.
Intel’s attention has instead been diverted to its larger (and more expensive) 80 GB and 160 GB drives. While the Z-P230 sold its 4 GB at less than $15, 8 GB at $25 and 16 GB at $45, the larger drives will rake in a much higher price. Netbook users are finding that SSDs are pretty much useless unless they’re big, so the change in focus will have an effect on the industry.
If you want to get your hands on these netbook drives before they’re extinct you’ve got until May 4 to put in your order, with shipments planned for June 4.
Via TGDaily.
