Compaq LS120

Compaq is committed to delivering the highest quality storage products available on the market. LS-120 MB technology is a new technology standard that enables users to store 120 MB of data on a single, 3.5-inch diskette. 120 MB represents an increase of more than 80 times the current capacity of the standard 1.44 MB diskette. The LS-120 delivers more effective file transfer, backup, and storage capacity. LS-120 technology is read/write backwards compatible to the installed base of more than 5 billion 1.44 MB and 720 KB DOS-formatted diskettes. It is fully supported by Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems. It delivers up to five times the performance of standard 1.44 diskette technology, and it reads and writes normal 1.44 MB diskettes. Now you can increase your productivity since you now can transport large files on a single diskette, store work-in-progress files on a single diskette including graphics, photos and presentations, save color, sound and motion files without compression, store and retrieve fax images, e-mail and phone messages and save hard disk space. LS-120 technology achieves advancements in capacity and performance by employing a unique combination of proven optical and magnetic technologies. It technology places Laser Servo tracks (hence the "LS" designation) on each diskette that are both written and read by a laser system. A precise servo pattern is permanently etched onto the LS-120 diskette media in tracks, sometimes called optical tracks. This laser etching is done at the factory and cannot be accidentally erased by an end user. LS-120 technology was developed by Compaq Computer, Matsushita-Kotoboki Industries, Ltd. (MKE), 3M, and OR Technology (parent company of Optics Research, Inc.). When an LS-120 diskette is inserted into an LS-120 drive, an optical sensor detects a laser beam to locate the optical track and give the read/write head precise positioning information. This method enables advanced data track densities of 2, 490 tracks per inch versus 135 tracks per inch for a 1.44 MB diskette. Data tracks are written and read magnetically. The LS-120 drive features a dual gap head that enables it to read and write both LS-120 diskettes and standard 1.44 MB diskettes. The drive also spins the media at a higher speed than other diskettes, resulting in faster data access times and transfer rates. The 1.44 MB diskettes do not gain additional capacity when used in an LS-120 drive, although the faster rotational speed allows the LS-120 drive to read and write a 1.44 MB. Drive advantages are clear with a new 5X performance, which performs up to five times faster than traditional diskette drives, offering transfer rates from the media up to 565 KB/s and quicker access to files on diskette. It possesses huge capacity, providing over 80 times the storage capacity of standard 1.44-MB diskettes, allowing users to store large amounts of data on a single diskette. Moreover, it is easy to use. It allows for user-friendly backup and archiving through click-and-drag features of File Manager or Explorer. It is capable of reading, writing and formatting a high-capacity 120-MB diskette, as well as most current diskette formats including: 640 kilobyte; 720 kilobyte; 1.2 megabyte; 1.44 megabyte.