30 Dec
2010
30 Dec
'10
1:35 p.m.
I've seen many times where the characteristics of
a 3.5" floppy are
given as "160 tracks". My take is that if you mean a physical head
position, it's best to say "cylinders".
I absolutely agree, and I try to do this. Doubtless I sometimes get it
wrong, but ....
However, like the term 'DB9 connector' (which you and I both know nearly
always mean 'DE9 connector'), alas the misuse of 'track' has become
common usage. An awful lot of people would claim the 3.5" drive in a PC
was an '80 track' device. It is, of course, 160 tracks with 80 cylinders
each containing 2 tracks.
I guess what I am saying is while it helps to be correct, it also helps
to know common incorrect usage of such terms.
Just as you would with a hard drive. For the life of
me, I don't see
why some folks insist on treating the nomenclature for hard and
floppy drives differently.
Alas they don't :-(. I've heard the term 'track' used for hard drives
when they meant 'cylinders'. ARGH!!!
-tony