Computex: M-Systems' DiskOnChip Flash Included in VIA's Reference Designs

As the capacity for Flash components gets bigger and bigger, it seems to be appearing everywhere. At some point, it's not hard to imagine that we'll see it replacing RAM (or hard drives) in many systems. At Computex today, M-Systems let us know that VIA is including its new DiskOnChip Millennium Plus as the local data storage device in its "Value Internet Architecture" line of reference designs, which include Web pads, information PCs, and set top boxes. VIA thinks the combination will give small footprint Internet appliances full Internet browsing, e-mail and computing capabilities on the cheap. Along with providing 32MB of local data storage, the flash disk is being used to take care of holding on to the system BIOS. More info on VIA's Value Internet Architecture can be found here , and more info on M-Systems' DiskOnChip Millennium Plus can be found here .