The trouble with Flash memory is that it costs too much and unit capacities are too low, but progress is being made and M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd, Tel Aviv and Santa Clara claims a breakthrough in solid state storage with its latest multi-chip module, which it calls DiskOnChip. The highest capacity version stores 72Mb and comes in a 32-pin package. The company controversially claims that computer builders have been installing DiskOnChip sockets on their motherboards, awaiting this capacity breakthrough. The new solid state disk secondary store is also claimed to be five times faster and to sell for 50% less per Megabyte. The Israeli company looks for the DiskOnChip to replace hard disks altogether in many applications, especially embedded systems. M-Systems is currently shipping only 2Mb, 4Mb, 8Mb, and 12Mb versions, and sampling 24Mb, while the 72Mb version will be out later this year. The 8Mb version is $67 in 10,000-up quantities; prices can be expected to scale fairly linearly.
