Lexar has announced the introduction of its new ExpressCard SSD (solid state drive) with auto-backup software.

Slotting into your laptop's ExpressCard slot, the 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB card can be used as additional storage or for Windows Vista customers, improving your computer's performance without the need to add DRAM to your comuter.

The ExpressCard SSD serves as an additional memory cache, which is a reserve section of memory that the computer can access faster than if it were accessing data from the hard disk drive.

Additionally, the ExpressCard SSD interface supports a direct connection to the chipset, allowing users to enjoy its entire extensive backup and ReadyBoost capabilities without having to unplug the card after every use; users simply keep their ExpressCard SSD in the slot as external storage.

Replacing the wider larger PC Card format, the technology has been embraced by laptop manufacturers, who are already shipping with dedicated ExpressCard slots. Manufacturers include Dell, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, Intel, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Sony, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba.

Earlier in the year Sony also announced that it would be integrating the format into its professional Camcorder so users could easily switch out the memory to and from devices.