SSD vs flash storage

They are the same exact thing.

If you're buying a Retina display, it comes with flash storage only - Shootist is right: an SSD is just flash storage in an eclosure designed to fit in a hard drive bay. If you're buying a non-Retina, you'll want to opt for a SSD - but I would buy from someone other than Apple as they simply charge way too much.

Let us know how your purchase decision is proceeding.

Clinton

Flash == SSD without the can.

But do remember that there are varying qualities of Flash. Fast, slow, longliving, not so longliving, etc. That's why you see ads for "server grade SSDs" costing a whole lot more than regular SSDs.

SSDs use "flash memory". The reason why a SSD is faster than a simple SD card for example is that SSDs use flash modules in "array", meaning many flash memory modules works together. (A little bit like a RAID-0 for example using two or more drives to achieve faster read/write speeds)

The most reliable SSDs use "SLC" memory modules. They can be written many more times than "MLC" modules used in 99% of SSD sold, but they cost more and a single SLC memory module can contain less data (and cost more)

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/ssd-value-performance,review-1455-5.html

Anyway, even MLC modern modules are very resilient and shouldn't be an issue. For example, I still have a small 30GB OCZ Vertex 1 drive and A LOT of data has been written to this drive (over 8Tb). It still works perfectly.