ASUS selects SanDisk's modular SSD for its unique computer with rotating touchscreen display

MILPITAS, USA: SanDisk Corp. announced that the 32-gigabyte (GB)1 SanDisk pSSD Gen2 drive was selected by ASUS as the SSD of choice for its new Eee PCTM multi-touch netbook computer.

The SanDisk pSSD drive helps enable the small form factor and low power consumption of ASUS’s latest addition to the popular Eee PCTM Touch series convertible touchscreen netbook line, the T91MT. Solid State Drives (SSD) use no moving parts, offering improved durability that helps prevent data loss resulting from drive failure. Computers with an SSD run quieter, cooler and consume less power than conventional hard disk drives (HDD).

The new ASUS Eee PC T91MT netbook offers a broad array of features that contribute to an improved user experience.

* Running Microsoft Windows 7 home premium edition OS, the netbook’s rotating display supports multi-touch gestures such as pinching, rotating and swiping, and can function as a tablet PC.
* Using a 256-level pressure sensor, the Eee PC T91MT’s crisp and responsive 8.9" multi-touch screen reproduces handwriting beautifully and accurately whether written using a finger or the bundled ergonomically-designed stylus.
* With its 8.9-inch display, compact size (8.86 x 6.46 x 0.99 inches) and a total weight of less than 1kg (2.12lbs.), the ASUS T91MT is ideal for on-the-go consumers who need an advanced netbook that can easily be taken anywhere.

“SanDisk is pleased to contribute to the stylish design of the Eee PCTM T91MT netbook from ASUS,” said Yoram Cedar, executive vice president, OEM business unit and corporate engineering, SanDisk.

“ASUS’s selection of SanDisk is also an indication that the market is ready to progress beyond traditional mechanical storage provided by hard disk drives and enter a new era of computing that uses highly durable and power-saving SSDs. As a supplier of modular SSDs for the PC OEM industry, we see increased interest for the SanDisk pSSD drive from companies that bring to the market portable computing solutions that are smaller, lighter and faster.”

The SanDisk pSSD drive includes an industry-standard PATA interface and a Mini PCIe form factor, delivering a variety of features that complement the ultra-thin ASUS T91MT netbook. The 32GB SanDisk pSSD drive’s compact size (weighing only 6.4 grams and measuring 32.2mm x 50.95mm x3.6mm) and low power consumption (average power of 0.15W2) are well-suited to the ASUS netbook’s particular form factor and extended battery life requirements.

"SanDisk pSSD’s small form factor and low power consumption contributes to the stylish design and light weight of the Eee PCTM T91MT multi-touch netbook,” said Jerry Shen, CEO, ASUSTeK Computer Inc. “With greater portability and longer battery life, our customers gain the freedom and flexibility to use their laptops anytime, anywhere.”

SanDisk’s modular solid state drive, pSSD, also allows ASUS to deliver greater performance to its users. pSSD offers 9,000 vRPM3 of performance and has the added benefit of employing nCache™ technology4, a large non-volatile write cache technology that boosts burst random write performance. nCache™ technology improves user responsiveness and helps prevent incidence of drive "stalling."

SanDisk pSSD Gen2 drive supports Windows 7, Windows XP and Linux. The drive comes in a variety of PATA and SATA interfaces and is available to OEMs in capacities ranging from 8GB to 64GB.