Original SS 400K floppy Disks

[Mac128]

I'm almost tempted to bid for this, if I didn't already have several hundred new DS 800K disks which are likely much more reliable. I probably would if they were Apple-branded disks (which are exactly the same as Sony disks, only in beige).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330460811839

At $49.95, despite the seemingly high price today, this is about what a box of 10 new SS 400K floppy disks would have cost in 1984. Maybe less. Hard to believe. The computer lab in college charged $6 per disk if you needed to buy one in the middle of a project – we all quickly learned to carry extras. I recall at the campus store, a box of the blue Sony disks cost about 15% less than the Apple-branded box sitting right next to them on the shelf (not counting student discount). Guess which ones were usually sold out ...

 

[Dog Cow]

Don't waste your money; use your DS disks.

 

[techknight]

unless you want them for a nostalgic reason, dont bother.

 

[Scott Baret]

There is really only one difference between 400K and 800K disks. Disk manufacturers would test only the first side of a 400K disk for errors. The second side, used only when the disk is formatted as an 800K disk, was good over 95% of the time. In the olden days, we used to buy 400K disks (they cost less than 800K disks) and format them as two-sided, almost always getting ten perfectly good 800K disks out of the box. Eventually, the single sided disks were pulled from the market and those who wanted 400K disks would only format one side of the 800K disk. 5.25" disks were sold the same way.

In other words, unless you absolutely must have the disk box for your collection, don't bother with this. 800K disks will cost less and provide the same performance, perhaps with a slight increase in reliability.

 

[Mac128]

Wow, guys, I really surprised at these responses. OF COURSE, the ONLY reason to buy these disks is for their collectable value. The Sony disks hold much less value for me than a similar box of Apple disks, which would serve to complete my original stock 128K collection, and I would happily pay their retail amount from 1984 to buy them (which would actually be double that amount today, inflation adjusted). However, the Sony disks most definitely have value on the collectors market as well, just not for me. Had I realize those $50 boxes of 400K disks I was buying in 1985 were going to become so rare, I wouldn't have become so cavalier with them after 1.44MB disks came out. I mean really, when is the last time you saw an UNOPENED box of SS 400K disks?

But, I admit your feedback is certainly helpful to those newbies who may not be as aware of these differences. I certainly hope you're not aiming those comments at me. :beige:

 

[Dog Cow]

Of course we are, you newbie.

 

[techknight]

LOL.... its all fun guys. If we couldnt have fun, why do it at all?

Anyway.. I still havent made it back to mendelsons to get the remaining boxes of unopened apple notebook disks for you guys. I'm trying though..... Its just a long haul especially for my peice of crap taurus.