Robson flash memory, also known as a Robson cache, is a technology the CPU producer Intel introduced on October 17, 2005 at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Taiwan when it gave a demonstration using a laptop that booted up almost immediately.[1] Robson flash memory uses NAND flash memory to reduce the time it takes for a computer to power up, to access programs, and to write data to the hard drive. For notebook computers, it could also improve battery life.[2] Flash memory keeps its data even after the computer is turned off, unlike most other types of solid-state memory.

Most of the power drain in a laptop comes from the processor, the LCD, and the hard drive.[3] Intel's Robson cache technology attempts to decrease hard drive usage by moving frequently accessed data (such as the operating system and most used programs) over to the flash RAM. Because flash memory reacts more quickly than hard drives and requires much less power, this technology will make notebooks much faster and more power efficient in the future.[4]

Robson utilizes new features available in Microsoft's upcoming Windows Vista, ReadyBoost (an EMD based solution) and ReadyDrive (a harddrive caching solution), allowing both read caching and write caching of data. Robson's primary competitor is the hybrid hard drive for ReadyDrive and USB keys for ReadyBoost.

Intel has announced that the Santa Rosa platform and Crestline chipsets will support Intel NAND technology [5]. This platform is slated to come out in the first half of 2007 to support Intel's Merom notebook PC processors.

On January 5, 2006, DigiTimes reported that Apple Computer may be introducing a notebook which uses a Robson cache.[6] While this story was picked up by dozens of other Apple news sites, Apple has yet to confirm the story. Apple has already phased out the iPod Mini, which had a 1 inch hard drive, in favor for the iPod Nano, which has 2, 4 or 8 gigabyte flash memory drives. The site MacRumors.com noted that DigiTimes has been a consistently unreliable source when it comes to predictions about future Apple technology.[7]

Some see Robson cache technology as a bridge between the massive hard drives of today and massive flash memory drives of the future. The only obstacle to the change is finding cheaper flash memory, and the shorter life expectancy of flash memory. Indeed, most flash memory wears out, current SLC memories fail after 100,000 read/write cycles, which is far less than current hard disk drives liability to bad blocks/sectors. If such memory is to be used as cache, error correction and wear-leveling algorithms will have to be used to extend the life of the memory beyond that of the laptop.