Flash memory is a form of EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) that allows multiple memory locations to be erased or written in one programming operation. It is a form of rewritable memory chip that, unlike a RAM (Random Access Memory) chip, holds its content without the need of a power supply.
Cost
| Flash memory’s price per Mbyte fell 56 percent from 2004 to 2005, and fell 47 percent more in 2006 and another 35 percent in 2007. Presently, NAND’s storage per Mbyte costs three times as much as minidrives’ and 100 times as much as large-capacity drives’. For example, a typical 512 GB flash memory card costs about $50 and a 5 TB hard drive costs about $90 in 2023. |
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Capacity
Hard drives generally hold up to few TB in PCs and up to few hundred GB in laptops. Compact-flash-sized minidrives hold up to few TB.
Replacing the Hard Drive?
There are two obstacles for flash replacing the hard drive:
- Flash memory technology’s higher price could make it more difficult for the technology to compete with hard drives in larger devices.
- Software makers continue building applications that balloon in size, thereby requiring more storage capacity.