Floppy disk

What may be the most powerful storage medium the humans have ever produced.

Afloppy diskis ahumanportable data storage device, using a magnetized disc inside of a plastic casing to store data in magnetic form. In the case of human computers, this is usually in binary code. How exquisitely crude of them.

Floppy disks come in several forms, specified by width:

• 3.5 inches; these flop little, having a fairly rigid case.
• 5 ¼ inches, encased in flexible plastic, as seen at right.
• 8 inches, from the days whendinosaursroamed the earth.
• 10 feet across, used by theAutobotsin 2011 or so.

Fiction

MarvelThe Transformerscomics

"Keep that safe — It's Optimus's mind."

WhenOptimus Prime"lost" his simulated duel withMegatronin the computer gameMulti-World,he accepted the agreed-upon fate... his real body was destroyed. However, the humanEthan Zacharyhad copied Prime's entire personality and memories onto a single 5¼″ floppy disk. (No, really.)Afterdeath!Later,Goldbugacquired the disk from EthanPretender to the Throne!and took it toNebulosin the hopes that the planet that birthed theHeadmastersandTargetmasterscould build a body to house Optimus Prime's personality. The disk interfaced easily with the alien technology (just go with us on this, all right?), andPowermasterOptimus Prime was born.People Power!

Following Optimus Prime's return to Earth,Scorponokused a stolen copy of the floppy disk containing Optimus's personality in combination with the stolenABCto devise a smart bomb to target and destroy Optimus Prime. Long story short,Getawayrecovered the disk and the plan failed.Prime Bomb!

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformerscartoon

You just wait till America Online starts sending out all those free CDs.

When the Decepticons raidedDoctor Alcazar'santimatterlaboratory, he sent the formula for the powerful substance toChip Chase,who memorized it and destroyed the only known copy by tearing the floppy disk in half with hisbare hands.Roll for It

The Headmasterscartoon

"I putDune IIon this as well. "

What appeared to be a gigantic floppy disk was used byFortress Maximusto store data on theMaster Swordwhen he was forced to hand the data over to theDecepticons.The Master Sword Is in Danger!!

2001Robots in Disguisecartoon

"Oh man, either Wedge gets it or I lose both my mp3s!"

Doctor Onishientrusted a floppy disk full of data toDoctor Yoshimotofor safekeeping, to later be given toKoji Onishi.Unfortunately thePredaconsgot wind of it, andGas Skunk,SlapperandDark Screamstole it from Yoshimoto. What they didn't know was that the disk was actually full of information about steam trains, whichMegatronassumed were secret weapons, and had his minions pointlessly attack "Grandpa".Secret Weapon: D-5

WhenWedgewas captured by the Predacons,Heavy Loadoffered to do a swap for a disk which he claimed was full of data on theGlobal Space Bridge.The trade went south when a penguin grabbed the disk, and everyone chased it aroundAntarcticauntilRo-Torsnatched it back. Unfortunately for both the Decepticons and the Predacons, it turned out the disk contained a map of the local sewer system.Wedge's Short Fuse

Notes

• The original Kup toyhas a pair of 5¼ inch floppy drives printed on his chest-sticker. Because he's old, you see.

External links

• Floppy diskon Wikipedia