Beyond rapid increases in capacity and density, the conventional hard drive hasn't fundamentally changed in years. A new generation of hybrid drive technology that marries non-volatile flash memory and the conventional magnetic disk promises improved performance and reliability. Add hybrid-based thinking to the client computing roadmap.

Hybrids Bridge the Solid State Gap

Ideally, hard drives would be entirely solid state-based flash memory. Flash drives are faster, more reliable, and more power efficient than conventional spinning disks. But until memory prices approach those of inexpensive disk, an interim solution is called for.