Hitachi-LG debuts second generation 'hybrid' optical drives

In the thin-and-light "ultraportable" class of notebooks, one of the first features to be removed as a space-saving measure is the optical drive. But these space limitations can be worked around with consolidated solutions like the so-called "Hybrid Drive" which combines an optical disk drive and SSD in a single drive enclosure.

Today, HLDS (the joint venture between Hitachi and LG) unveiled its second generation of hybrid drive, designed for use in smaller form factor devices such as ultraportable notebooks. It's an evolution of the HyDrive concept that HLDS showed off earlier this year, but with today's announcement, Micron is the supplier of the NAND flash components. The first run of these drives will come with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of memory.

"The success of Micron's 25nm NAND flash memory has driven yet another innovative application. The HLDS Hybrid Drive breakthrough is another example of Micron NAND flash technology's impact on everything from digital cameras and MP3 players, to smartphones, tablet PCs, and now hybrid ODDs," Kevin Kilbuck, director of marketing for Micron's NAND solutions group said today.

HLDS will be showing off the first PCs equipped with this drive at CEATEC 2010 in Tokyo this week, including the Averatec all-in-one, Shuttle Slim PC, and Moneual home theater PC.

Moneual says it will be the first company to bring a product to market featuring the new hybrid drives.