INTEL CONFIRMED the release of the Intel Z-U130 solid-state drive for laptops and notebook PCs based on NAND Flash Memory.

Chipzilla reckons that the Z-U130 will deliver faster boot times, embedded code storage, quicker data access and lower-power storage for computers, routers, servers, gaming and industrial applications.

As well as being used in a variety of Intel based computing platforms, like servers, notebooks and cheaper end computers, Intel also wants to put the Z-U130s to embedded use for routers and point of sale terminals. Currently the Z-U130 comes in densities of either 1 Gigabyte (GB), 2GB, 4GB or 8GB, but according to Computerworld, the chip behemoth will introduce 1.8 inch and 2.5 inch solid-state drives, which boast diskless storage capacities of between 80GB and 160GB, in Spring 2008.

Muscling its way into the laptop and notebook flash disk drive market would pit Intel against the likes of hard drive manufacturers Toshiba and Samsung, whose SATA based products will be released very soon indeed. Samsung has already said it’s close to shipping a 2.5 inch 128 solid-state drive in the coming months, while Toshiba reckons that its solid-state drives range in capacity from 32GB to 128GB and will be on the market by May.

The hefty price tag that comes along with the new technology should mean that they probably won’t be all that popular just yet though. µ