Kingston Technology has apparently chosen to go a different route from chasing top performance speeds by catering to those users who have SSD dreams but lack the deep pockets to support those wanton desires. They've released their SSDNow V-Series Solid State Drive, specifically targeting the entry-level consumer that may be looking to jump on the SSD bandwagon. Offering some performance reductions that still are very much in the "fast" realm, the V-Series looks to offer the perfect blend of performance and price.

So what's the catch? Ah......that's where things get interesting. This drive comes with a history: a JMicron controller. Yes, the component that ought to be referred as It Who Shall Not be Named. But there is something very different this time around with the V-Series controller: Kingston has been working with JMicron and Toshiba for six months with a claim that they've now resolved the notorious stuttering issues that plagued these controllers. In fact, they're so confident they have eliminated the problem that they're heavily pushing the V-Series to market, banking that the performance numbers will erase any consumer doubt about the drive's new capabilities.

So, has Kingston fixed the JMicron controller? If so, how? Let's take a closer look at the Kingston SSDNow V-Series as we absolutely hammer this drive to find out. Fair warning before continuing: you may be surprised at the results.

We'd like to thank our friends at Kingston Technology for supplying the review sample.

Founded in 1987 with a single product offering, Kingston® Technology now offers more than 2,000 storage products that support nearly every device that uses storage, from computers, servers and printers to MP3 players, digital cameras and cell phones. In 2007, the company's sales exceeded $4.5 billion. With global headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, Kingston employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. Regarded as one of the “Best Companies to Work for in America” by Fortune magazine, Kingston’s tenets of respect, loyalty, flexibility and integrity create an exemplary corporate culture. Kingston believes that investing in its people is essential, and each employee is a vital part of Kingston’s success.