2.4 Megabyte Floppies

[Chuck Guzis]

On 9/8/2006 at 10:01 AM Mr Ian Primus wrote:

>I've seen them used in IBM terminal controllers as
>microcode floppies. The drives for said terminal
>controllers are easy to find - I have many. Disks are
>scarcer. I don't know if the IBM 2.4 meg disk is the
>same as the ones used by the Kaypro. I also don't know
>much about how the format works.

I think we're talking about two different technologies here.  IBM used a
drive made by YE data that, while 80 cylinder, packed the data much more
densely on each track.  The Drivetec variety used dual positioners in
connection with a servo track to get 160 cylinders (at 600 RPM).  

In either case, floppies for them are pretty rare.

However, I wonder what would happen if one formatted the IBM variety using
a 3.5' 2.88MB-capable PC controller.  

Cheers,
Chuck