Is the floppy dead?

[Fencer128]

We have no use for ISA and some would say PS/2 and serial too so why oh why can we not find a replacement for the ageing floppy. Yes, I know zip drives are notoriosly unreliable but surely something must exist, some device to take over the humble floppy's cheap and cheerful mantle? Anyone out there got a rig and * heaven forbid * not using a floppy. Let's hear your opinions.

 

[yaethom]

Because the floppy drive is sooo unnecessary, and really doesn't become a burden, might as well get one for the helluva it. If the floppy ever changes I'd be pretty surprised.

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

You can put Zip Drives in place of Floppies if you like.

 

[Journeyman]

I got along quite nicely without a floppy drive until I had to turn in some programs for a Java class I was taking... Bought one just for that, haven't really used it since. I don't really think they're necessary, but having one doesn't really seem to hurt anything.

 

[Fencer128]

Does anyone out there never ever use a floppy? (doesn't own one) I'm interested if (and this is what I think happens) most people own a £15 paper weight that they never use but are "scared" of being without one. I know we're not talking hugely expensive here, but it would be interesting to seehow much money is being made out of something that is rarely used and yet nearly always purchased. I believe that floppy purchases will decline with increasing internet availability, guess I'll still have to wait a while to see the floppy die completely though...

 

[adams]

I have a floppy drive, but it hasn't worked for more than half a year. I mostly just use my zip drive, or email files to other computers. One problem I ran into was not being able to make boot disks for Linux(I think that's what I needed), but otherwise I have been fine without it.

 

[Jex]

Well, I know floppies are still used quite a bit (in my experience) with less computer savy people who need to transfer a file at a time. I know my wife still used them to take papers and presentations to school, just because it's a pain to get the files there via internet (poorly connected speech therapy department).

Personally, when Windows fails or something goes wrong with my hdd's, the first thing I do is boot from a floppy to see if I can find the problem. Since creating bootable cd's isn't easy (if anyone knows and easy way to make a bootable cd, I'd be interested in knowing) and since not all systems support booting from cd, booting from floppies is still the way to go.

 

[Bumboy]

can a floppy drive go dead from static?

 

[Danlz]

Jex - bootable cd info: The Coaster Factory

 

[BurntKooshie]

I need my serial port: it's cheap, and I have lots of legacy items which use it. I also have a quicklinks pen, which has only a serial cable (you can buy a USB one though), and the pen costs a lot, I'm not about to spring for a USB cable for it.

 

[Noriaki]

I use mine to load Promise Ultra100 drivers for Win2k....

Really Floppy Drives get very little use...once a month for me if that...

But when you need it it's really indispensable.

The only thing as universal as the Floppy is the CD, but they aren't universally writable yet....so...

 

[jthsmak]

I have 2 3.5" floppy drives and a 5.25" installed now. hmmm spacequest.