Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:48:10 -0800
From: "Holley, Michael" <michael_holley
at mentor.com>
Subject: RE: HP drives
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic
Posts"
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The original Shugart SA400 minifloppy (August 1976)
only allowed 35
tracks. In early 1977 Wangco announced the Model 82
Micro Floppy that
allowed 40 tracks with new media.
Here is a photo of both disks.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verbatim_5.25_minidisk_tracks_1978.jp
g
Michael Holley
FWIW, I've been told the reason the SA400 could not go beyond 35 tracks was
that it used the same slider as the 8-inch product that could run into the
spindle. The SA400L was a redesign that allowed the carriage to go further
in. If anyone cares, I can get details from some ex-Shugart Associates
friends.
Can anyone confirm that Wangco was the FIRST to go to 40 tracks? FWIW I'm
told by Shugart Alumni that it was Tandon.
Tom