floppy disk

hardware, storage (Or "floppy", "diskette") A small,

portable plastic disk coated in a magnetisable substance used

for storing computer data, readable by a computer with a

floppy disk drive. The physical size of disks has shrunk from

the early 8 inch, to 5 1/4 inch ("minifloppy") to 3 1/2 inch

("microfloppy") while the data capacity has risen.

These disks are known as "floppy" disks (or diskettes) because

the disk is flexible and the read/write head is in physical

contact with the surface of the disk in contrast to "harddisks" (or winchesters) which are rigid and rely on a small

fixed gap between the disk surface and the heads. Floppies

may be either single-sided or double-sided.

3.5 inch floppies are less floppy than the larger disks

because they come in a stiff plastic "envelope" or case, hence

the alternative names "stiffy" or "crunchy" sometimes used to

distinguish them from the floppier kind.

The following formats are used on IBM PCs and elsewhere:

Capacity Density Width

360K double 5.25"

720K double 3.5"

1.2M high 5.25"

1.44M high 3.5"

Double denisty and high density are usually abbreviated DD and

HD. HD 3.5 inch disks have a second hole in the envelope and

an overlapping "HD" logo.

(1996-08-23)