Sony will replace hard disks with flash memory when it launches a new model of its Vaio U laptop next week, it said on Tuesday.The computer will be one of the first on the market that uses flash memory in place of magnetic storage. Flash has long been eyed as a potential replacement for hard-disk drives because it’s lighter, runs silently, offers faster data access and uses less power, but price has always been an obstacle.The cost per bit of flash storage is still more expensive than hard-disk drives, but it has fallen to a level where some PC makers are experimenting with flash drives.The Vaio UX90 will come with 16GB of flash memory storage in place of the 30GB hard-disk drive on the original model. It will cost about 210,000 yen (US$1,805), or about 40,000 yen more than the disk-based model, and go on sale in Japan on July 3. Sony Headquarters Samsung Electronics launched a couple of PCs with flash storage earlier this month. The Q30 laptop and Q1 ultra-mobile PC both use Samsung’s “solid state disk,” which packs 32GB of NAND flash memory into a case the same size as a 1.8-inch hard-disk drive. Samsung is the world’s largest manufacturer of flash memory.-Martyn Williams, IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau) Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content opinion The Importance of Identity Management in Security By Charles Pelton Nov 28, 2023 5 mins Cybercrime Artificial Intelligence Data Management brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software Why data virtualization is critical for business success Data is your most valuable resource—but only if you can access it fast enough to address present challenges. Data virtualization is the key. By Milan Shetti, CEO of Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rocket Software The hybrid approach: Get the best of both mainframe and cloud Cloud computing and modernization often go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean the mainframe should be left behind. A hybrid approach offers the most value, enabling businesses to get the best of both worlds. By Milan Shetti, CEO Rocket Software Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by Rimini Street Dear Oracle Cloud…I need my own space Access results from a recent Rimini Street survey about why enterprises are rethinking their Oracle relationship and cloud strategy. By Tanya O'Hara Nov 28, 2023 5 mins Cloud Computing Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe