Hybrid Drive

[LunarMist]

I suppose this is only the beginning. 4GB is far too small. We need write caching too.orc:

 

[ddrueding]

4GB will get you quite a ways if it is used efficiently. I do think it is just a company that is poorly positioned in the SSD market trying to remain relevant.

 

[LunarMist]

Of course OS and apps will launch faster after repetitive use. Yet if the writes are not cached to SSD content creation apps won't benefit that much. In a few years I'd like to see 32GB and some control over which files to cache.

 

[ddrueding]

Control would be difficult to set up, and few would be capable of managing it usefully. Write caching would be very useful, even if it was only the 4GB.

 

[sechs]

How much more than a similar non-hybrid drive will this be?

 

[LunarMist]

The new Momentus XT comes in 250GB, 320GB and 500GB capacities and has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $113, $132 and $156, respectively. :colors:

 

[ddrueding]

500GB for $130...maybe

 

[LunarMist]

So there is a $40 premium for the flash chip.:clown:

 

[ddrueding]

That is the one with the flash chip (4GB)

 

[LunarMist]

It is $40 more than the similar drive without the 4GB flash chip.

 

[sechs]

So, we're looking at a 40% to 50% premium. Does it improve performance that much?

 

[LunarMist]

It helps repetitive reads like booting and opening apps. Reviews are not very thrilling. It is surprising that Seagate did not produce a hybrid version of the new 750GB drive since the PC board is the standard size. Maybe they will do so in the future.

 

[ddrueding]

I also find it funny that they aren't doing a 2TB 3.5" version as well, it isn't like it wouldn't be useful.

 

[LunarMist]

I doubt it would help very much at this point, given the results for the Monumentus XT.

 

[sechs]

Does seem to be a day late and a dollar short.

 

[Mercutio]

I'm willing to buy one. If it makes my non-SSD-having Thinkpad faster, that can only be a good thing.

 

[sechs]

Get a Hydrive. Better yet, just get an SSD.

 

[Mercutio]

Get a Hydrive. Better yet, just get an SSD.

I don't keep an optical drive in my notebooks. I keep an extra battery. And I want capacity. I already have one notebook with an 80GB X-25M. I really prefer to store a decent collection of my personal data on a machine, rather than having to connect to a file server for everything.

And yes, I know the current Seagate hybrids have some firmware issues. I fully expect that they'll be sorted out sooner or later.

 

[Stereodude]

Knowing Seagate I'd bet on later, and perhaps a lot later.

 

[LunarMist]

Maybe they will be givng away 1TB SSDs next year. :reindeer:
I'd be happy to have one with 32GB cache.

 

[sechs]

Knowing Seagate I'd bet on later, and perhaps a lot later.

And it won't be user updateable.

 

[LunarMist]

Why would a drive need to be updated if it is designed properly to begin with? :king: