Whats stopping flash drives from entering the mp3 player market?

Ian_Brooks

I've come across an article regarding the new microsoft zune's having an 8gig flash drive. If sony can make a thumbnail size 4gb flash disk - whats stopping this technology from being expanded upon to larger sizes? Wouldn't it be faster and more compact?

mgb_phys

Price and scarcety of high density large capacity chips.
currently it's more profitable to put them into $500 cell phones than $50 MP3 players.

binzing

First, they already have. Those small mp3 players that just plug into the USB are effectively a flash drive, with a battery and controls. Infact you can use those type of players to carry regular files. Second, larger sizes cost more. About a year ago, I think, I saw an add for large capacity flash drives up to 16 gig. The 16 gb one cast to the order of about $1400.

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Ian_Brooks	Whats stopping flash drives from entering the mp3 player market? Tweet I've come across an article regarding the new microsoft zune's having an 8gig flash drive. If sony can make a thumbnail size 4gb flash disk - whats stopping this technology from being expanded upon to larger sizes? Wouldn't it be faster and more compact?

mgb_phys Recognitions: Homework Help Science Advisor	Price and scarcety of high density large capacity chips. currently it's more profitable to put them into $500 cell phones than $50 MP3 players.

binzing	First, they already have. Those small mp3 players that just plug into the USB are effectively a flash drive, with a battery and controls. Infact you can use those type of players to carry regular files. Second, larger sizes cost more. About a year ago, I think, I saw an add for large capacity flash drives up to 16 gig. The 16 gb one cast to the order of about $1400.