http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/ Engadget Comments for Toshiba announces first SSD drives using new mini-SATA interface http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 5:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/
We can all rest easy now.]]>Sep 21st 2009 7:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 22nd 2009 2:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/pex1-mini-h-p-8291.html?ref=base

That's all I could find offhand..very expensive but they're out there...if you look a little more you might find a cheaper one. Unfortunately with the looks of the PCB on that it's not a simple pinout adaptation...]]>Sep 21st 2009 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pXfHLUlZf4]]>Sep 21st 2009 5:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/

]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 6:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 7:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 7:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 7:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Sep 21st 2009 7:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Since the normal HD's and molex-to-sata power plugs and early PSU's simply didn't have all the voltages, and didn't need to, but I imagine that for devices that don't spin a heavy platter and move arms you really don't need to have 12 volts and you can prevent downconverting it to the 3.3 volt used when it's directly available

On the other hand I read this: "SATA 2.6 first defined the 6pin slimline connector, intended for smaller form-factors; e.g., notebook optical drives." (with 3.3v and 5V only)
And "The micro connector originated with SATA 2.6. It is intended for 1.8-inch hard drives. There is also a micro data connector, which it is similar to the standard data connector but is slightly thinner." (also only 5&3.3v)

So perhaps they looked ahead too much, and had to deal with the reality of PSU's at first not going through the trouble of connecting 3.3v and so making the 'standard' non standard and pointless and now decided to be realistic about it and on request of the industry's real need define a new low power connector without all the non-used lines that fits better with tiny drives too.

Oh and some pins were set up so you can hotplug the power without frying things since SATA is hot plugable and it wouldn't do to have the ability to unplug the drive but not the power.
]]>Sep 21st 2009 10:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/
A new standard is fine. Its a developing area. Calm down. Right now what we have is a LACK of standards. This is a good thing.

Now WTF that thing on the left is I have no idea. But the mSATA connector and form factor is going to be a big deal in years to come.

This may even become standard in non-netbooks soon. I can imagine for a couple of years that laptops smaller than 17" that only have one physical drive bay might support one of this plus a drive bay, allowing you to use an SSD for your boot/application disk, and a rotating 2.5" drive for your media. Sure once SSDs kill off the rotating media you won't need that, but by then we might be using these things everywhere rather than just in netbooks. Nobody hates thinner/lighter/less power hungry do they?

The obvious question I'd have re. SSDs is whether this form factor allows enough flexibility to hit the performance levels you could get with a larger drive. Like Intel's SSDs do 10 lanes in parallel. Can you do that with this few chips and this small a device? Anybody know?]]>Sep 21st 2009 8:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Another medium might though, some new technology.
]]>Sep 21st 2009 9:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/
Link on the announcement of the new connectors:
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090921005517&newsLang=en

Quote:
"Intel Developer Forum 2009, San Francisco
BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), the consortium dedicated to sustaining the quality, integrity and dissemination of serial ATA (SATA™) technology, today announced it is developing a specification for a mini-SATA (mSATA™) interface connector. This new low-profile connector will enable more effective SATA integration in small form factor applications. "

And one of one of the companies:
"“SSD technology can work inside of virtually any form factor, so the new SATA specification should go a long way in encouraging extremely compact SSD storage designs,” said Jim Elliott, vice president, memory marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc."
]]>Sep 21st 2009 10:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Ever heard of F5?]]>Sep 22nd 2009 2:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/don't forget F5]]>Sep 22nd 2009 2:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/I guess I'll just delete my first post.
NOPE]]>Sep 22nd 2009 2:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/toshiba-announces-first-ssd-drives-using-new-mini-sata-interface/Oct 18th 2009 6:15AM