How many types of floppy disks are there?
Background
| Floppy disk format | Year introduced | Marketed capacity¹ |
|---|---|---|
| 3½-inch HD | 1987 | 1.44 MB |
| 3½-inch ED | 1991 | 2.88 MB |
| 3½-inch LS-120 | 1996 | 120 MB |
| 3½-inch LS-240 | 1997 | 240 MB |
How many floppy disks would it take?
To equal 1 Gigabyte, you would need 2,912 360KB floppy disks. Image by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic. When the IBM PC/AT made its debut in 1984, high density 1.2 MB floppy disks were on their way to becoming the standard. It would take 853 1.2 MB floppy disks to equal 1 Gigabyte.
How much storage did floppy disks have?
The first 8-inch floppy disk had a storage capacity of about 80 kilobytes. By 1986, IBM introduced the 3-1/2 inch floppy disk with 1.44 megabytes of storage space. This may seem like very little now, but at the time it was hard to imagine needing more space than that.
Do computers still use floppy disks?
Don’t be scared. Recently retired Boeing 747s still use 3.5-inch floppy disks to load updated navigational databases. Cramming large new tech into old tech is bad, but floppy disks aren’t inherently bad. The retired Boeing 747 is being toured as part of a virtual hacking conference.
What replaced the floppy drive?
CDs
What can I do with old floppy disks?
Once you have destroyed the data on your floppy disks, you may wish to recycle them. There are companies who will take your old disks for secure disposal, and recycling, but it’s recommended you destroy the data on them first before sending on.
How do I destroy old 3.5 floppy disks?
Rip open the floppy disk and cut it up with scissors to physically destroy data. To open up the floppy disk, remove the rectangular metal piece at the top of the disk, pull out the spring underneath it, and use your fingers to pry open the disk’s shell. Cut up the disk inside with a pair of scissors.
Are 3.5 inch floppy disks recyclable?
Companies offer floppy disk recycling Now that your disks are free of important data, they are ready for recycling. There are several companies that specialize in recycling floppy disks. One is Green Disk, located outside of Seattle.
Can I throw away old floppy disks?
Floppy disks consist of a flexible disk of plastic film covered with iron oxide. This is housed in a rigid plastic shell to protect it from damage. These disks are easily destroyed by removing the metal cover and cutting or tearing the plastic disk inside. The disk can then be thrown away.
Are old CD’s worth anything?
Those old compact discs you loaded up on at $15 a pop are now worth pennies on the Clinton administration dollar, thanks to a double-whammy change in consumers’ listening habits. Sales of new CDs have plummeted by about 90% over the past decade.
Can you throw CDs away?
CDs are recyclable, but you can’t just throw them in your curbside recycling bin. Compact discs are made out of polycarbonate plastic, which is classified as a No. 7 or “other” plastic. These plastics are often more difficult to recycle.