SSD or NO SSD.. That is the question

[James]

This "Write Endurance" is the term for these NAND flash chips in SSD?? I wasn't sure if if was read, write or both.

(Sorry for the newbie questions)

Correct. Write Endurance = number of write/erase cycles the NAND is good for.

45nm MLC NAND = 10000 w/e cycles per cell
32nm MLC NAND = 5000 w/e cycles per cell
2xnm MLC NAND = 3000 w/e cycles per cell

Seems like a drastic reduction, but even with the modern SSD's using 22nm flash (or 25nm), they are rated (due to spare area, wear leveling, etc.) for well over 5 years of normal use as mentioned by kent1146.

If you don't want to feel like a newbie anymore check out Anandtech's SSD anthology. It explains all of the basics in a way that is very easy to understand.