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Hardware Detail

Item Reference:
HW0757    
Machine Type:
33FD
Serial Number:
  33FD Floppy Disk (Diskette) Drive
  The 33FD was the first ever diskette drive and used 8" diskettes. It was originally invented to load microcode into IBM processors and peripherals, for example S/370. By changing the diskette in the drive IBM Customer Engineers could easily update microcode to the latest level or load diagnostics.

Later on 8" floppies were used in data entry equipment, such as the 3741 and 3742, and in word processor equipment such as the Office System/6 and DisplayWriter. It was also used on General Systems Division's System/23, their attempt at the personal computer marketplace and announced shortly before the IBM PC.
Date of Origin:
1971
Donor:

33FD

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Location:
On Display - Corridor Commissioned By: Museum Until: