Flash memory does not have the mechanical limitations of hard drives, so an SSD has better speed, noise, and power consumption.

FORBES: SSD Flash Storage is Transforming Tomorrow's Business

Luckily for the companies cranking out flash memory--slim memory chips that mimic the capabilities of bulky mechanical hard drives--their old friend Steve Jobs is there to help.

FORBES: A Cure For Memory Headaches: The iPhone

Under its shiny new skin, new hardware and software, such as a slimmed down version of Apple's OS X operating system and a flash memory drive, instead of the current iPod's mechanical hard drive, could keep the new device thin and light.

FORBES: The Next iPod