Solid-state memory storage technology refers to the development of computer hardware that is capable of storing large amounts of information, and retain that information in the absence of power. The demands for nonvolatile memory--memory that retains its contents without power--are increasing, with the expanding need to transfer information between computers, hand-held personal digital assistants, digital cameras, and multi-media devices. The term solid-state refers to the hardware aspect of this technology. Solid-state disks are plug-in storage devices that have no moving parts.

Data is stored in solid-state memory devices in Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), the same semiconductor devices used to make the main memory for the computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU). They appear to the host computer the same as a magnetic rotating disk, such as is used for conventional memory storage, even though they do not contain a rotating magnetic platter...