microtape

hardware, storage /mi:'kroh-tayp/ Occasionally used to mean

a DECtape, as opposed to a macrotape.

Apparently the term "microtape" was actually the official term

used within DEC for these tapes until someone coined the word

"DECtape", which, of course, sounded sexier to the

marketroids. Another version of the story holds that

someone discovered a conflict with another company's

"microtape" trademark.

[Jargon File]

(1995-03-16)