📅 March 17, 2012

Have you ever heard of a flippy disk?

In the early days of computing when data was stored on larger, flexible 5.25″ floppy disks, a common practice of doubling the available storage space was to modify the disk by adding a second write notch (often with a hole puncher) so the disk could ‘flipped over’ and allow data to be written on the other side.

The result? A flippy.

This actually shortened the life of the diskette because it caused the magnetic disk inside the protective sleeve to spin in the opposite direction. Floppy disks also exposed the magnetic platter to the elements, and this allowed foreign substances to invade the diskette’s innards. Any dust or flecks trapped inside experienced two-way travel, affecting the diskette’s reliability.