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Kumabjorn · 06-03-2012, 01:24 AM

I consider myself a fairly knowledgable computer user, I knew how to write batch files in MS-DOS, so I'm the go-to-gal when my girlfriends have computer problems and they want to avoid the condescending looks and remarks of the men in their life. However, I have never worked in IT nor programmed, so I know my limitations.

I use a reasonably decent laptop an HP with 6 GB RAM and a 700 GB HDD. However, I have more than 550 GB available. This never happened before, I was always able to fill'er up. The main reason I don't is that I have an external 1 TB USB drive where I leave all my video files (and they range from a 150 MB to 2 GB in size).

This got me thinking. The biggest limitation on a modern computer has to be the HDD, it's mechanical, requires cooling, takes up space and is prone to breaking down after extended usage. Back when we used SCSI we also had something called RAID, a system of connected HDDs if we really needed huge amounts of storage.

Shouldn't it be possible to create something similar using SD cards (is that considered a solid state drive?)? Toss the HDD and connect several memory cards (I understand they don't need to be cards when used internally) so you have some 240 GB of storage, the rest you can put on an external HDD connected through USB.

I visualize a lighter, quiter, reliable computer experience, and I don't think it has to make the computer more expensive. Yes, you get less storage internally, but it seems to me you still get enough for your computing needs (maybe not your entertainment neeeds). What is a reasonable explanation for this not happening?

06-03-2012, 01:24 AM	#1
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	Computer savvy input I consider myself a fairly knowledgable computer user, I knew how to write batch files in MS-DOS, so I'm the go-to-gal when my girlfriends have computer problems and they want to avoid the condescending looks and remarks of the men in their life. However, I have never worked in IT nor programmed, so I know my limitations. I use a reasonably decent laptop an HP with 6 GB RAM and a 700 GB HDD. However, I have more than 550 GB available. This never happened before, I was always able to fill'er up. The main reason I don't is that I have an external 1 TB USB drive where I leave all my video files (and they range from a 150 MB to 2 GB in size). This got me thinking. The biggest limitation on a modern computer has to be the HDD, it's mechanical, requires cooling, takes up space and is prone to breaking down after extended usage. Back when we used SCSI we also had something called RAID, a system of connected HDDs if we really needed huge amounts of storage. Shouldn't it be possible to create something similar using SD cards (is that considered a solid state drive?)? Toss the HDD and connect several memory cards (I understand they don't need to be cards when used internally) so you have some 240 GB of storage, the rest you can put on an external HDD connected through USB. I visualize a lighter, quiter, reliable computer experience, and I don't think it has to make the computer more expensive. Yes, you get less storage internally, but it seems to me you still get enough for your computing needs (maybe not your entertainment neeeds). What is a reasonable explanation for this not happening?