Hybrid SSD HDDS from Seagate said to be the ideal middle ground between the two.

[Crixx_Creww]

Supposedly far greater laptop HD performance than a standard HDD, but not quite SSD performance BUT size ranges from 240 to 500 gigs and price starts at around 100 Sheckles.
Sounds pretty great for a middle ground.
I didnt read much but i gather the drives have ddr3 and 4Gigs of SSD drive space as cache and buffer for faster than average read and write.

http://www.anandtech.com/
http://gizmodo.com/5546086/seagate-dishes-out-momentus-xt-hdd-worlds-fastest-25+inch-hdd

[Saxito Pau]

Nice find. Maybe I can get this for my ultra portable laptop when it comes. Probably by December. My only requirement for purchase is that I get same or better battery life out of my laptop with it.

Addendum:

According to  OverClockers, RAID-0 of two of these drives, will fiercely challenge a single SSD... allyuh DONE KNOW what I doing next year!

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/seagate_momentus_xt_500gb/

http://storageeffect.media.seagate.com/2010/05/storage-effect/momentus-xt-what-the-experts-are-saying/

And there is a desktop version!

[Arcmanov]

OK, so I've just found my MSI Wind's new drive.

I REFUSE to pay the ridiculous prices on offer for just 40 GB.

...and as SOON as its available, I'm buying one.

[TriniXaeno]

got damn, this is a dream come true.

the best of both worlds and for cheap.

Saves me having to move my "game of the month" across to the SDD for blistering speed. The Momentus will realise this game getting all the action and move it across automagically.

+1

This will definitely be the interim drive of choice to get SSD tech to the masses before the price comes down on pure SSDs.

Great find.

[Arcmanov]

I would just like too see a netbook battery life test with one of these using common apps,
like web browsers, media players, you know, the usual netbook stuff.

I just need to know, without a doubt, if my battery life will increase, because the platter
speed in this XT is faster than my current netbook drive.

If not, then I may still have to hold out for a 'cheap' 80-320GB SSD.

[Crixx_Creww]

I didnt even think of the whole battery life issue, really couldnt care less about battery life
but i really see this as an awesome way to increase my laptop performance.
Will make a big difference in ps, gaming and 100 tab browsing lol.

And best of all is i dont hadda replace my optical drive to get size and performance like a dual ssd hdd setup.

[TriniXaeno]

likewise, couldn't careless bout battery life.

that is a girly concern, lol

[Crixx_Creww]

like.. why would you run your machine not plugged in?
all that performance settings headaches blah blah, dim screen .. ugh
best just use a solar powered calculator yes

[Arcmanov]

Well...I won't get into the I-have-a-portable-computer-and-cannot-be-portable-with-it argument, but there are times (oh noez, the horrorz0rz)
when I have to be away from the AC.

Wouldn't you love to have another couple of hrs battery life to work with?  I know I do.

[TriniXaeno]

not at the expensive of HD performance!

[Crixx_Creww]

why would you be away from power for more than 2 or 3 hours???O.o what kinda sick sadistic devil ting is dat?

[Saxito Pau]

Man, behave yourself eh! I on battery now with my new laptop, and 70% battery left, it still saying over 3 hours left. I do not use my laptop exclusively at my desk at work.

[Arcmanov]

Crixx...do I really need to spell that out?

OK..for example if I'm on the fast ferry, or the water taxi...I would want to be sure
if I'm using my netbook that it won't crap out on me halfway trough the trip because of
a power-hungry drive right?

Also, if I'm in the field troubleshooting a network issue in an area where there may not be any available power outlets, or it may not be convenient to plug it in...what then?

[TriniXaeno]

High performance vs battery life

Which do you choose?

[woodyear99]

Crixx...do I really need to spell that out?

OK..for example if I'm on the fast ferry, or the water taxi...I would want to be sure
if I'm using my netbook that it won't crap out on me halfway trough the trip because of
a power-hungry drive right?

Also, if I'm in the field troubleshooting a network issue in an area where there may not be any available power outlets, or it may not be convenient to plug it in...what then?

I agree with u there, have gotten lots of use from my netbook when stuck on the boat going to Tobago. I appreciate it even more when the boat takes a 5 hours to reach tobago due to engine failure/port electricity issues etc. lol

But yeah when/where can I buy this so I can pew pew pew faster?

[TriniXaeno]

rofl @ pew pew pew

To be honest, since the patch came up that cut battlefield load times to a third of what it once was.....I no longer have the burning desire to upgrade my hd speed.

Will still definitely go for one when time to purchase a new HD.

[Crixx_Creww]

Amazon has it on pre order since the drives not out yet
$115 for the 350 if memory serves correct.

ANd as for teh netbook... UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH lets not go down that road....
we are talking about laptops, not glorified calculators.

[Arcmanov]

So because you get a fancy gaming notebook, yuh cuttin style on my netbook?

HYMC warning 1/3...

I'm quite sure I've done a lot more actual work on my netbook  than you will EVER do on that notebook eh...

[Crixx_Creww]

haha not true kimosabe

i use my notebook to adminstrate my servers through rdp
which is fantastic on windows 7 consequently

and i do my shop work on my lappy too

AND i run my vms with my studies and test beds on it too
its awesome...
calculators need not apply

[woodyear99]

netbooks can't do that?