Flash Memory to Replace Hard Drive in Laptops

While I see the merits of making switch over to flash hard drives @ $50 gig it seems hardly justifiable to me the average user. Just like processor speeds - how fast do you really need it to be if you're just writing emails and searching the web? IMO flash drives will have to offer more then what Samsungs posted to constitute an extra $1600 on my next laptop/desktop purchase.

Actually, once Windows Vista comes out in 2006, um I mean 2007, processor speed will matter again. It always takes the software people a little time to catch up with the hardware innovations. That said, I think flash memory hard drives will lead to smaller, lighter laptops that don't have to be charged nearly as often. The cost should come down in a year or two.

Good point about the software...but how fast does something really need to go? To me this almost seems like food industry; consumer portions keep getting bigger and bigger, jumbo size, extra large etc and we keep consuming more and more. Same has been true for the computer industry larger hard drives, faster processors. Just as people are now starting to ration and institute portion control to stay fit and healthy, I feel computer consumers will start to do the same. New technology no doubt increases companies bottom lines, but as a consumer I would think one day we have to reach a point where its just not cost effective to keep upgrading to the biggest, fastest, best technology out there. (I think we are already there in some ways) Think back 10 year when you bought your first computer – you like everyone else in the world bought the fastest one you could get and you like everyone else paid a premium for it. Today even large companies don't buy the fastest and the best out there because the performance difference isn't justifiable to the cost increase. (Look at the success of Dell's low end models) I'm sure no doubt the price will fall but at its current cost I still think its tough sell to the masses, but if anyone can do it – Marketing Can!!! :-)

You may have a point there. It does seem like people are going for the latest technological innovations less and less. Seems like kicking around a computer with a pentium II chip is good enough. I mentioned how software will eventually catch up with the hardware in complexity. It seems rare that that complexity is usefull though. You may have a point that what we percieve as improvements may be little more than repackaging. I'll have to think about that.

With that said, once I physically use an upgraded, faster machine, I'm never happy using the older, limited equipment. I don't know many peaple who are happy to "settle for." Except the lazy ones who don't want to take the time to learn to operate new. Some peaple have more money than brains. They buy way overcharged products than what they actually need. But lets face it, without some of this fool-hearty spending research funds would not be available to develope cutting edge technology for the minute percentage of user who actually require it.

This has a note of truth, however, in some respects speed is well worth it.

As an engineer using power intensive computer software (i.e., CAD) for design work, the added cost of faster hardware pays for itself very rapidly. When an engineer costs you $50 to $75 per hour, you don't need to save too many engineering hours in a year to pay the extra premium of a high power desktop or even a laptop.

After you have paid for the expense, it essentially becomes a money printing machine.

Shucks, it wasn't long ago that hard drives were over $50 per gigabyte. Wait a couple of years. There's plenty of people who can't wait who will drive the production up and the cost down. How much is Samsung stock?

I can hardly wait until the flash drive prices come down. I can forsee compact flash drives evenually replacing dvd-rw. The prie is the only obstacle from my stand point. Can you imagine plugging in a compact flash drive to watch the latest movie. A much hardier medium I would think. Do you agree?

I like your thinking. No more scratched DVD's from Blockbuster - Just one small Compact Flash movie!!!