Microsoft may have plans to eliminate its use of hard disk drives (HDDs) which are among its key storage components on Windows 11 PCs, according to a recent report by industry analyst Trendfocus, as reported by Tom’s Hardware.
And if Microsoft implements its plans, consumers could start seeing solid-state drives (SSDs), with the exception of dual-drive desktops and gaming laptops, which require multiple types of storage, Tom’s Hardware notes.
While Microsoft declined to comment on the matter, current trends point to a full market transition to SSD by 2023, and many PC makers are already using the SSD as their main storage option, however it’s still not a definite standard, especially in emerging markets, according to a digitartlend report.
Trendforce claims that Microsoft is pushing internally to switch to SSD as the main storage standard for Windows 11 PCs, however the brand hasn’t implemented any requirements that PC or laptop makers must follow.
Tom’s Hardware noted that Windows 11 requires computers to have at least 64GB of storage space for installation but does not specify the type of hard drive, and the operating system has of course been available since last October for both HDDs and SSDs.
However, the post questions whether Microsoft requiring Windows 11 PCs to have hard drives in 2023 will result in a minimum spec list for PCs as a whole, and furthermore whether hardware makers will be penalized for not following the list. .
Overall, analysts note that Microsoft’s moves are fiscally driven, with SSDs per unit costing more than hard drives, and with the pandemic boom of personal computers and computer component prices dwindling due to inflation, manufacturers are still unsure how they will be affected by the global ranking as well. to business.
Trendfocus Vice President John Chen told Tom’s Hardware that 2023 remains a challenging date for the transition to an SSD, and some suggestions considered in talks with Microsoft include delaying the emerging markets transition until 2024 or temporarily halting the desktop switch until then.