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Flash Facts: A Quick Guide to Flash Data Storage

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Introduction
As the Flash data storage leader, SanDisk is dedicated to providing the most advanced Flash solutions on the market. This Flash Facts Quick Guide will help you understand some of the basics about Flash and how it can benefit you.

What Is Flash?
Flash is solid-state data storage that uses semiconductor chip technology instead of a rotating platter as in traditional disk drives, resulting in a number of significant benefits:

• Unlike rotating disk drives, Flash data storage devices have no moving parts that are subject to mechanical failure.
• Flash provides non-volatile read/write memory that requires no battery to retain data indefinitely — an advantage not offered by SRAM or DRAM.
• Flash is noiseless, considerably lighter, more rugged and reliable, and consumes much less power than rotating disk drives. It also offers faster access time, and can be up to 30% faster than a typical disk drive in a read/write application.
• Flash can be used to store all kinds of data — from voicemail and video clips to e-mail, photographs, and images — on a device small enough to fit in your wallet.

Making the Right Flash Decision
There are two types of Flash on today's market: linear Flash and ATA-compatible Flash.

Linear Flash presents problems when used in Flash cards, since its performance and compatibility depend on drivers called Flash File System (FFS) or File Translation Layer (FTL) software. Different versions of these drivers are not always compatible with different systems, so data can't be transferred from one device to another.

ATA-compatible Flash, on the other hand, is fully compliant with the PCMCIA-ATA open industry standard. It provides interoperability with all major platforms and operating systems and is easily portable from one device to another, with no need for FFS or FTL software. ATA-compatible Flash also offers 100% DOS compatibility and full emulation of industry-standard disk drives.

When compatibility, interoperability, and performance count, SanDisk Flash data storage is the ATA-compatible solution you can count on to deliver.

SanDisk Leads the Way
SanDisk has consistently led the industry in sales of Flash card data storage units, according to leading market research firms, including Dataquest and In-Stat.

SanDisk Flash outperforms other data storage solutions for two main reasons: Our integrated intelligent controller stores all ATA commands, providing full compatibility with virtually all operating systems, utilities, and application programs. And we design our own controller and Flash memory chips to ensure maximum product performance, compatibility, and reliability.

Distinct Sandisk advantages include:

• Broad Operating System Support: Numerous platforms and operating systems support the PCMCIA-ATA standard, including DOS, Windows®, Windows 95, OS/2, Apple System 7, most types of Unix, and many others — so they already support SanDisk Flash.
• No Need for Flash File System Software: SanDisk Flash emulates a disk drive, using industry-standard 512-byte read/write blocks. No special Flash File System or File Transfer Layer software is needed, resulting in much greater compatibility and easier product development.
• Dual Voltage Support: SanDisk Flash supports both 3.3V and 5V operation and can be interchanged between 3.3V and 5V systems.
• Superior Reliability: All San Disk Flash products are protected by built-in dynamic defect management and error correction technologies.

CompactFlash Series
The world's smallest removable storage system is only one-fourth the size of a PCMCIA card. It extends system battery life by consuming less than 10% of the power required by rotating disk drives. CompactFlash can be used with any existing PC Card Type II or Type III slot (adapter required), and is available in 2, 4, 10, and 15 MB capacities.

IDE FlashDrive Series
With 1.3" and 1.8" form factors and 2, 4, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 MB capacities, FlashDrives are designed for mobile computers, communication devices, and other systems in which removable data storage is not required. Their major benefits include low power consumption, high resistance to shock and vibration, instant data access, and "plug-n-play" compatibility with IDE disk drives.

Flash ChipSet
The world's smallest embedded ATA/IDE data storage system is available with 2, 4, or 10 MB capacity. It offers low power consumption, broad compatibility, and advanced 32-bit technology — enabling a new generation of lighter, smaller, and less expensive electronic products.

Put SanDisk Flash to Work for You
Our Flash data storage products lead the way in compatibility, ruggedness, reliability, capacity, small size, and low power consumption — providing cutting-edge technology to design all of these advantages into today's industrial, consumer, computing, and communications applications.

We'd like to put our Flash to work for you. For more information, please call: 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. Or use our fax-back information number: 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.

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