Diskette

Diskette

A diskette, also known as a floppy disk, is a type of data storage medium that was widely used from the late 1960s to the early 2000s. It is a magnetic storage device that consists of a thin, flexible magnetic storage disk encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Diskettes were used for storing digital data and for transferring data between computers.

History

The diskette was invented by IBM in 1967. The first version was an 8-inch disk that could store up to 80 kilobytes of data. In the late 1970s, the 5.25-inch diskette was introduced, which became the standard for personal computers in the 1980s. The 3.5-inch diskette, introduced by Sony in 1981, eventually replaced the 5.25-inch diskette due to its smaller size and higher storage capacity, initially storing 720 kilobytes and later 1.44 megabytes in the high-density version.

Usage

Diskettes were used for a variety of purposes, including storing software, documents, and media files. They were also commonly used for creating backups and transferring files between computers. In the era before widespread internet access and USB flash drives, diskettes were one of the primary methods for portable data storage and transfer.

Decline

The popularity of diskettes began to decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the advent of more compact, higher-capacity storage solutions such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and USB flash drives. The increasing availability of internet-based services for data storage and transfer also contributed to the decline of diskettes. By the mid-2000s, most new computers no longer included diskette drives as standard equipment.

Legacy

Despite their decline in use, diskettes hold a nostalgic place in the history of computing. They were instrumental in the development and proliferation of personal computing and remain a symbol of the early days of the digital age. Some industries and government agencies continued to use diskettes for specific purposes well into the 2010s, although their use has become increasingly rare.

Technical Details

A diskette consists of a circular, flexible magnetic disk encased in a protective plastic jacket. Data is recorded on the disk's magnetic surface in concentric tracks and sectors. Diskettes are read and written by a diskette drive, which accesses the magnetic surface through a small aperture in the jacket.

Types of Diskettes

There were three main sizes of diskettes:

• 8-inch: The original diskette size, used primarily in the 1970s.
• 5.25-inch: Used widely in personal computers during the 1980s.
• 3.5-inch: Introduced in the early 1980s and became the standard due to its smaller size and higher capacity.

Each size of diskette came in various storage capacities, with the 3.5-inch diskette eventually reaching a standard storage capacity of 1.44 MB in its high-density form.

See Also

• Magnetic storage
• Data storage device
• IBM Personal Computer
• USB flash drive