Damn The Dollar Torpedoes! Full NAND Flash Ahead!
Apple's popular video iPod media player is going to scrap a hard disk drive altogether, and go with flash memory, according to a report from an analyst from Prudential Equity Group.
"We believe that the video iPod transition from 1.8-inch hard disk drives to NAND flash memory may occur as soon as late 2007," Tortora wrote. "Our checks indicate that Apple is considering canceling its next generation HDD-based iPod design, with the form factor refresh involving a move to NAND flash memory."
The analyst said such a move would be consistent with Apple's penchant for placing user experience ahead of cost concerns. He also noted that recent history supports the scenario, given the economics of a similar transition where Apple in late 2005 decided to move from the 1-inch hard drive based iPod mini to the NAND flash based iPod nano.
