SanDisk, Samsung, BiTMICRO, Mtron and all other SSD maker beware! Intel is expected to join the lucrative solid state disk bandwagon in second quarter of this year. According Cnet, Intel's initial SSD line up will include 1.8- and 2.5-inch SSDs ranging from 80GB to 160GB in capacity. The world's leading chip maker has not only worked up capacity, but also speed. Troy Winslow, marketing manager for the NAND Products Group at Intel said, there will be a significant improvement in speed and their SSDs will easily surpass Samsung's 100MB/second read speed. Intel's products will be based on the SATA II specification that offers speeds of 3 gigabits (Gb) per second.

This could be the best news for SSD fans as more competition == low price. And entry of a big player like Intel is certain to reduce SSD pricing. "Price declines are historically 40 percent per year," Winslow said. "And in 2009, a 50 percent reduction, then again in 2010."

[Via Cnet]