Although Intel only demonstrated its Robson cache technology in the fourth quarter of last year, sources now claim that Apple Computer will launch a notebook computer in the middle of this month that utilizes the NAND flash based cache memory technology.
The sources did not say which line of Apple notebooks would implement the technology, and Apple Taiwan was not available for comment at the time of publication.
Robson cache technology relies on NAND flash instead of a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) for starting up a computer or launching frequently used applications, and thus is able to significantly improve the computer’s boot up time, as well as battery life. Intel demonstrated the technology with a Centrino-based notebook during the Intel Developer Forum Taipei in October 2005.
A report in Computer World cited Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of Intel's mobile platform group, as saying that power consumption should be minimized by using a NAND flash storage device, as it does not require a motor to spin the drive.
According to industry observers, there are three possible ways Apple can deploy Robson technology in its notebook. The most convenient way would be to equip the device with a NAND flash disk on module (DOM) that would plug into an ATA slot.
Another method would be a combination memory solution, whereby Robson is deployed on the HDD. HDD makers would provide an addition density area that would be assigned to NAND flash.
The last solution, which is also the most direct solution, is to embedded the Robson-flash into a chipset or create an additional slot on the motherboard for such memory. However, this solution would involve the motherboard and chipset makers, so observers doubt the possibility.
