Intel drops price on SSDs

Intel expects more netbooks will be equipped with SSDs

Intel is cutting the price of its solid-state hard drive (SSD) models.

The company said that it would be offering a 40GB SSD model at a cost of $125 (£83). The Serial ATA model will be known as the X25-V.

Intel said it will target its new SSD drives at two markets: the emerging netbook field, with its emphasis on smaller, faster storage drives, and the desktop PC market.

The company believes that the low-cost drives will have appeal as half of a dual-boot setup in combination with a larger platter-based hard drive.

Intel is hoping that the lower price point will allow PC vendors to offer the faster, more efficient hard drives in lower cost systems. Previously, SSD drives were limited primarily to high-end and specialised models.

"SSD adoption continues to be one of the more exciting trends in personal computing, and this entry-level product enables users to enjoy the productivity and performance benefits of Intel SSDs at a new price point," said Intel NAND solutions group marketing director Pete Hazen.