CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial

[ad]Lexar/Crucial had many memory products on display, but there were two things which were more noticeable than anything: a computer in a globe, and the SSD shaker. The globe computer’s memory was connected to various LEDs placed where major cities are, and the SSD shaker, well, shook an SSD like a jackhammer while a movie played from it. ThinkComputers was there.

Lexar was purchased in 2006 by Micron Technology, the less familar parent company of the more familiar subsidiary Crucial Technology. Lexar and Crucial were merged until the name Lexar Media, but it still uses the Crucial brand name for its desktop and laptop memory and solid state drives.

RAM

Lexar showed off its Crucial-brand DDR3 Tri-channel memory for the new Intel Core i7 processor and associated chipsets. This RAM runs at 800 MHz and 1600 MHz, and will eventually hit 2000 MHz, the highest in the current specifications for DDR3. It continues to sell its Ballistix Performance Memory, including the Tracer model which features modules illuminated by LEDs which react to memory accesses and changes. A new line of Ballistix DDR3 has red, green, and blue tracers for even more user choice.


CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial


SSDs

The new Mobile and Mini Mobile solid state drives are aimed at the netbook market, both for factory-installed units and aftermarket units such as the ASUS Eee PC and Dell Mini 9. A 64 GB SSD for the Eee PC will run $159, with a 32 GB version at $79. A 64 GB 2.5″ version will run $199. In March, the company will release a 128 GB version of each, as well as a 1.8″ series of drives.


CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial


Flash storage

Lexar showed a new Memory Stick Micro card for Sony devices, as well as a new SD card which has sufficient speed for 1080p video recording from an HD video camera. It can hold up to six hours on the 16 GB card based on their HD specifications. These cards will ship in a few weeks.

Lexar’s Shoot-n-Sync Wi-Fi memory card was on display, too. It was the first I’d heard of an SD version of something which I’ve known has been on CompactFlash cards for a while now. It’s neat to see the progression and miniaturization of technology! The unit can send to Flickr, Picasa, and the like. The chip is actually made by Eyefi.

Users whose cameras take huge pictures can benefit from the 300x transfer speed of the Lexar UDMA CF card. This unit, while not new at CES, has only been around for a few months and is apparently in high demand.


CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial

If you didn’t know, all Kodak-brand Flash memory is actually made by Lexar since September 2007.

USB Flash storage

The two new models of Jumpdrive are the TwistTurn and the Retrax. The TwistTurn features a folding knife-style flip out connector, while the Retrax has a retractable connector (what an apropos name!). Additionally, the SecureII and Lightnings continue to be sold, both with a special software for secure partitions on the drive. The Secure II shows capacity information while unplugged, while the Lightning benefits from much higher transfer rates.


CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial

The Globe

I leave you with pictures of the globe computer!


CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial CES 2009: Lexar/Crucial

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