Toshiba's new 512GB SSD gets launched - in its own notebooks

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 14 May 2009 15:52

Opinion and Analysis

Toshiba continues, saying that: “The integration of SSD reinforces the performance excellence of the Portégé R600, making it the perfect notebook to use beyond the front door and out on the road.

”Using a 2-bit-per-cell multi-level NAND flash memory at the 43nm process generation, the Portégé R600 now has the world’s largest SSD capacity, which means more space for the information that is important to you.”

Matthew Tumminello, business product marketing manager Australia and New Zealand, Toshiba ISD, said that: “Toshiba was the first to innovate the notebook computer more than 20 years ago, and today we’ve stepped up the mark again to the world’s first notebook with 512GB SSD.

“With a 512GB SSD, the ‘rugged’ Portégé R600 not only keeps your data safe, but saves energy and gives you more room to store your most valuable information.”

Toshiba also offers these details on SSD power consumption:

“To allow the new SSD to cut power consumption, a newly developed controller enables high-speed parallel processing with the multi-level NAND flash memory. 

“This cuts power consumption by approximately 50%, meaning less environmental impact, whilst boosting data access speeds to approximately 200% for read (max  230MB per sec) and approximately 150% for write (max 180MB per sec), compared to a hard disc drive.

“Additionally, the Portégé R600 has an energy-saving design that cuts power consumption by adopting an ultra-low voltage CPU. Its trans-reflective LCD also uses natural sunlight to make screen images more visible even without switching on the backlight.

“Offering true mobility, the Portégé R600 has a light, (approx 1,095g) thin (19.5mm to 25.5mm) design that integrates the essential features for mobile notebooks, including long-time battery operation (up to 8 hours).”

As Engadget notes, Toshiba has beat Asus to shipping a 512GB SSD in a notebook, so while the inevitability of some price competition will follow, I only wish I could beam some bucks into my bank account to boldly go - and buy a beefy 512GB SSD!