With the invention of the Hard Drive and the CD-ROM Drive, it would seem that Floppy Disk Drives are too out of date to still be useful. So why are they still on every computer that we buy?

Well, there are a number of reasons, but the main reason is that it is very practical for small files. Although the low capacity of the floppy disk makes it impractical for storing programs, they are still ideal for storing other data. For example, you can store thousands of pages of word processing files on a single floppy. You can also store hundreds of small images, as well as a few high-quality images or photos.

A Standard Floppy Disk

There are also some minor reasons. One of them is that since the Floppy Disk is the only form of storage that is auto-detected by the computer when it is first installed. This makes it useful for installing the drivers (small software that allows other hardware to function in the computer) for the CD-ROM and the Hard Drive. The Operating System and other programs can then be installed from CD-ROMs to the Hard Drive.

Essentially, the Floppy Disk works the same way as the Hard Drive. There are some differences, though. The most noticeable differences are that a Floppy Disk holds much less data and it is much slower. Also, Floppy disks can be taken out of the Drives and replaced by other ones, while the Hard Drive platters cannot. The Floppy Disk is mostly made out of plastic, while the Hard Drive is mostly metal.

The Floppy Disk Drive