Hybrid-drive Ultrabooks may come out on top

The solid state drive (SSD) is one of the cruxes of the Ultrabook™ computer. The technology, which is also found in most smartphones and tablet computers, is the reason Ultrabooks are able to boot up quickly and operate at high speeds. It's also one of the reasons Ultrabooks are so expensive.

A traditional hard disk drive (HDD) is comparatively cheaper but also slower. Because of this, many Ultrabook manufacturers will start looking toward solutions that marry SSDs with HDDs and offer the best of both worlds.

UK news provider the Register, in citing a study by TrendFocus, reports that hybrid disk drives will receive more attention in the near future, as Ultrabook makers look to reduce the costs of their devices without sacrificing functionality. Hybrid drives are essentially HDDs with a flash cache, the Register reports, which enables the devices to reach "near-SSD speeds."

Aaron Rakers, analyst for Stifel Nicolaus, says a new line of hybrid drives should arrive by the third quarter of 2012, with more on the way by year's end, according to the Register.

The benefits of SSDs in Ultrabooks are extensive, offering faster boot times and extended battery life compared to traditional laptops. However, as Ultrabook demand continues to evolve, so must its components -- a notion many manufacturers seem to be embracing.