PQI showcasing microSATA SSD, ExpressCard SSD and more at CES

Good heavens, it's been years since we've seen anything noteworthy leave the labs of Power Quotient International. Thankfully, the outfit will be relevant once more when CES rolls around, as its forthcoming SSD line has quite a few big hitters. First up is the 1.8-inch microSATA SSD S518, which is destined to squeeze into tight spaces in capacities of up to 125GB, while the 32GB ExpressCard SSD S520 finally gives you a reason to utilize that funky slot over there that's gone untouched for months. There will also be a 2.5-inch SATA SSD S525 (available in sizes up to 125GB) and an elusive e-SATA Combo Card S530. As for details on pricing and availability? You'll have to wait till the show gets rolling for that, but the full release is waiting just past the break to tide you over.

[Via PC Launches]

PQI Shows Off Their Latest SSD Products at the 2009 CES

Taipei, Taiwan ~ 2008.12.31 ~ Visitors attending the 2009 CES at Las Vegas during Jan. 8 ~ 11, 2009 can locate Power Quotient International Co., Ltd. (PQI) at the Venetian Tower 233, 234. At the exhibit, PQI will have on display their full range of Solid State Drive (SSD), USB Flash Drive (UFD), Memory Module and Flash Memory Card. Four new SSD products makes their debut ~ 1.8" microSATA SSD S518, Express Card SSD S520, 2.5" SATAⅡ SSD S525 and e-SATA Combo Card S530. Of which, the 32GB Express Card SSD S520 utilizes PCI/E slot and PQI's patented Intelligent Stick Interface. Users have the option of using it as a USB flash drive or to extend its PC / laptop storage capacity through PCI/E slot. The 64GB e-SATA Combo Card S530 has an e-SATA connection interface and it reaches a maximum read speed of 90MB/Sec.

Both PQI's 1.8" microSATA SSD S518 and 2.5" SATA SSD S525 are available with a maximum capacity of 128GB. The 1.8" microSATA SSD S518 can be installed into PCs or laptops and the 2.5" SATA SSD S525 comes with two interfaces for storage expansion.

SSDs are advantaged over traditional hard drives in read/ write speeds, shock proof, low power consumption, lighter body weight and quiet operation. In addition to industrial, embedded, server and medical industries, PC applications are beginning to see the implementation of SSDs in high end performance systems. Having more than 10 years of experience in solid state storage technology, PQI's SSD and DOM products are ahead of the pack providing customers with a diverse and complete solution!

Other innovative PQI products at CES including a series of waterproof USB flash drives and Intelligent Drive i828, winner of Product Design Award ~ 2009 German iF Award. The Intelligent Drive i828 utilizes a clip-on design that allows for users to make use of existing i828(s) to increase their storage capacity, indefinitely.

For more PQI news or the latest PQI product information, please visit PQI at www.pqigroup.com.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2009 11:15AM]

cool, for those computers with a card reader...but i dont like how they are going to have to be right up next to the computer to be plugged in. thats why i like the ones with cables, so i can hide them elsewhere on the desk

[PIMP Posted Jan 4th 2009 11:26AM]

125 GB - Wtf-warning ?

[CaptainReynolds Posted Jan 4th 2009 11:35AM]

that connector'll snap RIGHT off

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2009 11:43AM]

That's what she said!

[ElCapitan Posted Jan 4th 2009 11:47AM]

I've personally never heard of this company, which makes me wonder about their SSD quality. And why does everyone hate on express card? It's great. I've had a Yoggie Gatekeeper Card pro in there a while. Plus I have a number of other storage accessories that work great. I think it's way better than PC cards

@ PIMP
Yeah, 125GB. could they not squeeze in 3 more gigs to make it normal?

[mm Posted Jan 4th 2009 12:04PM]

Surprisingly, the DRAM I found in one of my older boxes are from PQI, and they still work. I have no question about their SSD quality.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2009 4:52PM]

Verbatim has been around for a really long time. They are a media manufacturer, mostly things like blank CD/DVDs. Pretty good company but not sure what to say about this device.

[nikster Posted Jan 4th 2009 9:22PM]

PQI makes about zillion different flash USB sticks. I have an 8GB one which I must say is the slowest USB stick I own.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 6th 2009 1:14AM]

Ah, yes. The price slide begins on these types of products. A number of the memory product companies were counting on SSD's to uplift thier margins within 6 months of CES you'll see prices drop rapidly (as usual). Look out Seagate/WD, no wonder your 1.5 terabyte drives are 170$ already

[gonintendo Posted Jan 4th 2009 12:03PM]

Shouldn't it be called a solid state drive, not disk?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive

[Android Overlord Posted Jan 4th 2009 12:27PM]

Wtf are you talking about.

[Oli D Posted Jan 4th 2009 12:34PM]

I don't care about pricing.
I don't care about availability.
I care about Read/Write speeds.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2009 2:41PM]

Looks to me like the left out the interesting part. The picture showed that they both have built in retractable USB plugs. They look like the USB pluges in their slim line flash drives.

[Shinigami Posted Jan 4th 2009 2:53PM]

"finally gives you a reason to utilize that funky slot over there that's gone untouched for months"
Lies, it is used by X-Fi sound card since day 1!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2009 5:11PM]

What about Express Card and USB?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 5th 2009 2:17AM]

So, How fast is the ExpressCard version ?

[Professor Kaos Posted Jan 4th 2009 7:16PM]

I sure hope those eSata and USB ends are just retracted. If they plug in as shown, that will be a sad , and expensive day when you bump that little guy and break either off.

[Professor Kaos Posted Jan 4th 2009 7:18PM]

Don't mind him, just a spanish monkey peddling his half porn , 2 story long, amateur blog on Engadget. O.o