Flash memory-based Apple Notebook rumor: PCM Rather Than NAND

Recently, rumor websites have been exploring hypothesis concerning information published by an analyst about Apple to release a notebook model where the HD storage unit would be replaced by flash memory. If OSX Leopard Mobile version does not require more than 4GB of space, it does not mean that Apple would use NAND-type memory; and all subsequent news about it might simply be wrong. Hereafter is why.
Schematically, a computer is composed of a CPU, a GPU (integrated or independent), and some "memories". Today, we make difference between active memory and storage memory, but in a near future this might change dramatically.
This revolution will come with the PRAM or PCM (phase-change memory) that Intel expects to launch in mass production by mid-2007.
Such memory has several advantages over the NAND:
- rewritable 100 millions times
- more reliable than NAND`
- up to 500x faster read/write speed than standard flash memory
- faster data transfer than a HD
- estimated lifetime of stored data: 10 years.
So, in a near future we might indeed see HD-less notebooks, but the storage space will most likely be replace by PCM-type memory rather than flash memory.
NAND memory will remain the key component for removal storage units (USB keys, etc.)