Competition Stiffens As Pace Moderates in the Market for Floppy Disk Drives
Article Abstract:
Floppy disk drives are now their own industry. OEM production in Japan reached 2.26 million drives and a value of 77 billion yen by March, 1984. Many large companies produce 100,00 units per month. Lower prices have led to price-cutting. The supply-demand situation reversed itself and created a situation similar to that in the personal computer market when IBM entered it. Floppy disk drive demand depends on the PC market and the current surplus in Japan is expected to be short-term. The profit margins on five-inch drives are less than for eight-inch drives. Dual-format drives may be best for multifunction workstations that function alone or in a configuration. However, they are expensive. It is not clear if the three-inch drives will replace the five-inch ones. High-capacity, low-profile drives are becoming prevalant. Companies must move quickly if they are to succeed. Vertical magnetization may be the next step. There is strong competition between the 3.5 inch disk and the more costly three-inch disk. Photographs of various models and tables of disk types are included.
Publication Name: Office Equipment & Products
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 0387-5245
Year: 1984
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Compact Floppy Disk Drives and More Efficient Storage
Article Abstract:
Floppy disk drives have become smaller and are being used in other products besides personal computers and word processors. Drive sizes developed include eight, five, four, 3.5, and two inches. It is anticipated that the American National Standards Institute will approve the three, 3.25 and 3.5 inch compact drives. Competition has centered around lowering weight and power consumption as well as developing drives that have 250K to 7MB of storage capacity. Work is being done on a metal and vapor-deposition technology. A servomechanism would enable a disk to have a +400 t.p.i. track density. Greater storage capacity could put floppy disks on a level with hard and optical disks. Charts summarize technical specifications of the Hitachi compact drives, the HFD 305SX and the 305D.
Publication Name: Office Equipment & Products
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 0387-5245
Year: 1984
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Products and Sales Strategies of Makers of Floppy Disks and Drives
Article Abstract:
Technological advancements, such as slimmer machines, larger memory capacities and disk drives under five inches, are establishing a new trend in the floppy disk market. This has resulted in increased competition between existing manufacturers as well as the entry of new companeis into the market. These manufacturers are developing new market strategies and increasing production in order to meet the needs of this growing industry.
Publication Name: Office Equipment & Products
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 0387-5245
Year: 1983
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