> On Jul 21, 2017, at 3:42 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > On Fri, 21 Jul 2017, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote: >> Interesting. Another example, slightly later, is the audio unit of the >> PLATO IV terminal (1974 or thereabouts). It uses a rather large disk, >> perhaps 10 inches diameter, brown oxide, no grooves. It's a random access >> device, with 128 tracks. Each track has 32 sectors; a given audio clip can >> be up to 127 sectors long (though I'm not sure what happens if it's more >> than 32 sectors -- does it switch tracks? Seems unlikely). >> The track seek is done with a binary encoded pneumatic cylinder assembly, 7 >> cylinders -- low order stroke is one track pitch, next is 2 tracks, next is >> 4 tracks, etc. So the binary track number would select 7 air valves which >> would feed supplied "shop air" to one or the other side of each piston, >> moving the read/write head to the correct track. > > Floppy? not rigid?
Yes, floppy. No sleeve, just the magnetic disk. > THANK YOU!! > I actually do love to be proven wrong! > (so long as there are details like this!) > > Are there any pictures? I haven't found any yet. Will ask. paul