Iomega ZIP Drive popularity?

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
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I have external Zip drive but not hooking up on my PC but I am wondering if everyone still using Zip drive nowaday because DVD-RW and CD-RW drives are getting popular now.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
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In my experience, they seem to be most prevalent(sp?) in schools and colleges. I almost never use my ZIP drive; it's just sort of...there now. I've got a CD-RW drive on one PC, a DVD-RW on the other, a USB keychain drive, and a 100Mbps network. Data gets around easily here.:)
 

timswim78

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2003
4,330
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Originally posted by: Rottie
I have external Zip drive but not hooking up on my PC but I am wondering if everyone still using Zip drive nowaday because DVD-RW and CD-RW drives are getting popular now.

There are a few instances where they are the best solution, mainly in academic settings. For example, you are in a group that is working on a large project and don't have access to a networked resource to store the project. The zip disk can hold a lot of information and you can read and write to it (which CDRW's and DVDRW's cannot do). Also, group members can take the disk with them and work on the project wherever,

 

Mr N8

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
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I have 10 drives sitting in my storage area at work. Since getting DVD-RW drives in our servers and some workstations, there is no need for them. That, and a nice 500GB NAS box.
 

EeyoreX

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2002
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Zip is not as popular as it once was. Zip isn't compatable with nearly every computer used these days. CD-Rs can be read in just about all CD-ROM drives. Zip media is expensive, while CD-R is less than a dollar a disk. Zip is not compatable with itself. The 750MB Zip drives can't write to Zip 100 disks (the single most popular Zip format/size). Even I have about 10 Zip disks laying around. I have no Zip drive anymore. I don't mind burning a 50MB file to CD-R, since it is so cheap. Though, I do recognize Zip is still used and popular in certain settings.

\Dan
 

Mitzi

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2001
3,775
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I've still got an internal ZIP drive in my machine. I used it alot over the last few years for transferring work between home and university. Now I've finished uni I use it exclusively to backup my Quiken data file because its slightly too big to fit on floppy, besides I've always liked that fact that ZIP disks are much more robust than floppies. However, the height of ZIP popularity has well and truely passed. Long live USB flash memory devices!
 

filmmaker

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2002
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I still use Zips frequently, but now Iomega doesn't allow writing to 100MB zip disks from a 750MB drive. You can still read from one, though. :(
 

FreakyGuy

Senior member
Dec 12, 2001
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I think USB keychain drives are the future. They are cheaper and no drivers needed to hook up to another computer.
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
1
81
I always wanted External USB Zip drive so I can put it away if I don't use it often but I don't know if it is worth...ZIP might not live longer in the future.

Yes I have seen popularity of USB keychain..the problem is I might be wrong..I can't take USB keychain to other computer without a special software or driver...it is a hassle.
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
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Originally posted by: Rottie
I always wanted External USB Zip drive so I can put it away if I don't use it often but I don't know if it is worth...ZIP might not live longer in the future.

Yes I have seen popularity of USB keychain..the problem is I might be wrong..I can't take USB keychain to other computer without a special software or driver...it is a hassle.

You are semi-wrong. Any computer running Windows 2000 or XP (and maybe even the newer MacOS's) can instantly recognize the keychains...they show up as removable drives under "My Computer".
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
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Originally posted by: SickBeast
Originally posted by: Rottie
I always wanted External USB Zip drive so I can put it away if I don't use it often but I don't know if it is worth...ZIP might not live longer in the future.

Yes I have seen popularity of USB keychain..the problem is I might be wrong..I can't take USB keychain to other computer without a special software or driver...it is a hassle.

You are semi-wrong. Any computer running Windows 2000 or XP (and maybe even the newer MacOS's) can instantly recognize the keychains...they show up as removable drives under "My Computer".

that's great..I might want to try 512MB USB keychain....if I work alot of artwork.