Computer disc sizes ;-)

[zabadak]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

Weren't the first Spectrum "disk" drives actually tape loops?

[Gothic]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

was it built in to the spectrum like the tape deck was on 128k.

Yes, it was a built in 3" drive on the ZX Spectrum 128k +3

[Gothic]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

Weren't the first Spectrum "disk" drives actually tape loops?

The ZX Microdrive was an external drive and it was a tape loop.

[Arran]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

I've never used one but I heard they could be temperamental.

This was a big reason the QL never did well in the "semi-pro" market.

The tapes gradually stretched with use and the data stored on them became corrupted. I was verbally informed that some users used to format the tapes multiple times before use in order to pre-stretch them thereby reducing the amount that they would stretch during use.

Full story of the Microdrive

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03...rodrive_story/

There was a competitor to the Microdrive by Exatron called the Stringy Floppy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exatron_Stringy_Floppy

[Arran]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

This was a big reason the QL never did well in the "semi-pro" market.

The Microdrive was intended to be a less expensive alternative to a floppy drive for home users where the cost of the drive is of more concern than the cost of the removable media. The business community had already decided on floppy drives at the time the QL was released, and the cost of the removable media was of more concern to them than the cost of the drive. A Microdrive cassette cost around three times as much as a 5.25 inch floppy as well as having reliability issues.

[80sChav]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

In a word - when I began using Discs circa 1995 they where so midgy - almost extreme to Mobile Phones in those days as my first Ex once advised we should buy 1 each (in either 1995 or 1996)! How things at times can contrast vastly I often think!!

80sChav

[Twocky61]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

5.25's for me too

[ken70]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

Who remembers the computer discs: 8 inch 5 and a quarter inch 3 and a 1/2 inch Used them all at various times in my career

never used a 8 incher, but have an unopened box of them. Remember also 3 inch? or thereabouts used on some machines in the 80's, also wafadrive microdrive for sinclairs.

[DSCOMAN]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

The 8, 5 1/4 3 1/2 discs ...
and if you check Youtube there are floppy disc drives used to play music

[Cartimand]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

Had a microdrive for a while on my Speccy 128K, but wasn't impressed with it.
My final Spectrum was the +3 with its 3" disks.
Was a pretty good machine and, with the same sound chip as the Atari ST had very good audio for the time too.

[Pussywillow]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

Still got a few of those 3.5" disks kicking around in a drawer somewhere. Never used !

[80sChav]

Re: Computer disc sizes ;-)

Though they'd do nothing I am certain 100% I have some old 90s ones - like for the old Football Manager Games played on PC too!

80sChav