Invigorate Old Floppies

If you'd like to use those 3.5-inch floppy disks you have left over from the mid-1990s, then you might fancy QPS's Que SuperDisk 240MB external drive. The $179 USB unit supports 240MB and 120MB SuperDisk media as well as standard 1.44MB disks--in fact, it lets you cram 32MB of data onto each old floppy.

True, most desktop users are probably better off with one of today's affordable CD-Recordable drives and their roomier media. But notebook owners, especially those with thin-and-light models that lack a built-in floppy or CD-R drive, may find more to like. Plus, the sub-1-pound Que SuperDisk 240MB draws its power through the USB port, which means you have no extra power cords to carry.

I tested a shipping unit on a desktop PC; the USB installation was a breeze. You really can store 32MB on a regular floppy, thanks to the included SuperWriter 32 software, which allows the drive to write data closer together and with more compression. However, you can access that data only by using another SuperDisk 240 drive with the SuperWriter 32 software.

QPS throws in Dantz's robust Retrospect Express backup software, which costs $49 when purchased alone. Also included is the Que D2D DVD-authoring program. Remember that a standard 1.44MB floppy reformatted to 32MB capacity will hold just over 3 minutes of low-quality video or about 1 minute of DVD-quality video. This software will be more useful with the 240MB SuperDisks, which each hold about 28 minutes of DVD-quality video.

SUMMARY

QPS: Que SuperDisk 240MB Offers multiple options for the storage-deprived, but makes little sense for desktop users. List: $179