31 Dec
2006
31 Dec
'06
4:28 p.m.
--- Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
**>> snip <<**
You know, I've never had anyone ask about converti
ng
one of the Brier
flopticals (I've got the drive) or the Drivetech
floppies, much less
an Amlyn or Exatron stringly floppy. I can only
conjecture that the
media didn't last very long.
**>> snip <<**
Cheers,
Chuck
Yes, you are quite right Chuck.
The ESF (Exatron Stringy Floppy) drive,
advertised on the back of most of my issues
of 80 Microcomputing, didn't last long despite
the heavy advertising.
As I understand it, the folks at Exatron hoped
it would become the new standard for storing
data. Unfortunately the 3.5" floppy disk (or
one of similar size) was invented around the
same time and, obviously, became the new
standard.
The ESF was about x10 faster than a cassette
and the floppy was much more than that
(atleast x20?).
As I understand it the ESF's broke down after
a year or so. The thin layer of stuff (i forget
now, some ferrous material) which was coated
onto the erm... mylar (?) started flaking off
rendering the ESF's useless.
I'm sure I read an article on ESF's about 6
months ago... hense why I know a bit about
them. It may have been in an issue of 80
Microcomputing.
Regards,
Andrew D. Burton
aliensrcooluk at yahoo.co.uk