Western Digital enters markets that exist, announces products when they are available, and runs a tight model with opportunities greater than resources such that we take a controlled, methodical, sequential, incremental approach to product portfolio expansion.I case competitors did not really understand it yet, WD does not speak about products which might, or not. Appear in a short, mid-term or long-term future, it only talks about products which will be effectively released.
WD considers there are 2 markets for SSD. On one side, entry-level for cheap SSDs to be used in handheld devices: low performance level, small capacity. This market does not really attract WD.
The second market deal with SSD featuring high-performance levels, and the linked high price tag. WD has already built part of its business around similar plate-based high performance HDs, from the Raptor to today’s Velociraptor. A good point indeed, as we think that such high performance HD will be the primary target of high-end SSD, as the one released by Intel. However, as usual in such market, never trust figures on paper, and never bring any conclusion before having tested or compared products in reality.
At the end, all plate-based HD manufacturers will soon offer their corresponding SSD models in 2009, pushing price of SSD down and allowing earlier adoption by customers.
