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Dell Dropping The Floppy

Posted by timothy on from the drop-away dept.

adambwells writes "Dell wants to stop including floppy drives as standard hardware on its Dimension line of desktops, and will start this practice later this quarter, as reported in this Yahoo article. Says Dell's product marketing: We would like to see customers migrate away from floppies as quickly as possible, because there are better alternative technologies out there ... it's an antique technology. At some point, you've got to draw the line. You wouldn't think of using a processor from 15 years ago." They plan to educate their customers about recordable CDs and USB pen drives as replacements."

3 of 1,198 comments (clear)

  1. Floppy drives? by I+am+the+blob · · Score: 0, Troll

    They still make those things? Who'd've thought. Last few machines I built I never even considered one. Small files: easier to move via network. Boot for install: CD. Large files: CDR.

    What possible purpose does the floppy drive serve today?

    --

    All sweeping generalizations suck.
  2. Re:"You wouldn't think of using a processor..." by NineNine · · Score: 0, Troll

    Now, I haven't been living in a cave for the past few years (I was even a developer as recently as a year ago), and I've never heard of these "USB Pen" things. I dunno. Maybe because I don't go into places like "Best Buy" and "Comp USA"? I only have 2 machines (out of about 6) with a single USB port, and I don't have a CD-R drive that's faster than 4x. Hell, even at faster speeds, just the start/finish CD process makes it a real PITA. Plus, you have to close down apps to make sure the burn process works... bah. CD-R's are good for backing up, but that's about it.

  3. In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Dell announces "we are Apple's bitch." A spokesperson commented saying, "They are just years ahead of us... well about 4 or 5 to be more precise."