meaning of floppy disk

1. floppy disk 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 "hard disks" 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.
2. a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a microcomputer; "floppy disks are noted for their relatively slow speed and small capacity and low ">price"

Related Words

floppy disk | floppy disk drive |

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