[Bosom parts] Removable disk "Iomega Zip" with a capacity of 100MB

　This time, I would like to introduce an Iomega removable disk "Zip" that I inherited from a friend, and a parallel-connected Zip compatible drive "".

Zip is a removable magnetic disk media released by Iomega in 1994. A capacity of 100MB was achieved by adopting the high recording density media "Advanced super Thin layer & high Output Metal Media" developed by Fujifilm.

At that time, removable disks "MO" (magneto-optical disks) with capacities of 128MB and 230MB were already popular in Japan. MO was slow because it required three steps of data erasing, recording, and verification when writing to a disc (later, direct overwrite technology that erased and recorded simultaneously appeared). However, Zip did not require these steps, so it was faster than MO. Seek time is 28ms on average, and random access is fast.

　The price of Zip media at the time wasn't that great when divided by capacity, but I remember that the absolute unit price was relatively cheap, and above all, the drive itself was cheap (around 15,000 yen). As you can see by disassembling the main unit, it is amazing that only one Torx screw is used for assembly. The disc retention mechanism and the unit itself are simply sandwiched between the upper and lower covers, and the covers are also fixed by snapping. It's so simple that a trained person can assemble it in a minute, which is why it's cheap.

The back of the drive with the DC input on the right side of the front drive where the Zip media disk has a hole at the top and the head is inserted through here. With a parallel port connection, a printer can also be connected. Simple instructions are provided on the bottom. If you write the contents on the label, you can check the contents of the label even when it is inserted. Disassemble the drive. I just did. No screws are used. The cover is fixed only by the left and right claws. When I removed the front bezel, the drive unit was placed on top of the rail parts, but this rail is also just placed on the holes in the main unit. There is only one Torx screw for fixing this board, so basically there are many dedicated parts, so I won't follow them one by one. , A unique disc retention system that seems to have been purposely converted from parallel in this unit. The retention does not move to the rear unless the media is inserted. When the media is inserted, the lock is released and the entire retention can slide to the rear. If you approach the head that can be opened, the protective cover will open, and if you set it all the way in, you can insert the head

There are many variations of the connection interface model, and the most basic one is introduced this time. This is a parallel port connection model. Of course, the connection interface with the PC is a parallel port. The power supply uses an AC adapter, but there was no AC adapter when I took over this time. However, since it is driven by 5V/1A, if you buy a USB to DC power supply cable with an outer diameter of 5.5 mm and an inner diameter of 2.5 mm sold by Sengoku Densho, you can drive it with USB bus power or a USB AC adapter.

　On Windows 95/98/Me/NT 4.0/2000, install the dedicated "IomegaWare Tools" to make it recognized. On the other hand, since Windows XP, this tool cannot be used, but the OS supports it as standard, but in order to use it, check "Enable legacy device plug and play detection" in the parallel port settings of the device manager. must be entered.

　The write protection and password protection functions are implemented by software, so these functions are not supported on Windows XP or later where IomegaWare Tools cannot be used.

USB to DC plug conversion cable with an outer circumference of 5.5 mm / inner circumference of 2.5 mm. 200 yen at Sengoku Densho If you use this, you can make it run on USB bus power. On Windows XP, if you check "Enable plug and play detection of legacy devices" in the printer port properties, it will be automatically recognized. There is also an icon with Ru-chan (this is a 250MB version of Zip as a motif) I picked up a ThinkPad T42 that had been thrown away in a garbage dump, took care of it, and tried to make it recognize

Windows Vista is unknown, but Windows In 7, the drive was not recognized even if the above setting items were enabled. Probably Windows 8.1 and 10 also can not use this. However, in fact, this just cuts support for parallel port connections, and Windows 10 supports it properly. When I purchased a USB connection that was sold for 590 yen at a certain hardware off in Chiba Prefecture and connected it, I was able to recognize it even with Windows 10. With this, you can rest assured even if you say "I will send the manuscript by Zip (physical)" (Note: Please do not send it seriously).

　That said, it's unlikely that you'll be able to buy a USB one now. But if you want to read your own Zip, don't give up entirely. As of October 2016, ASRock's "AM1B-ITX" (new, price.com survey), which is the cheapest motherboard sold in Japan, says, "It has a parallel port and officially supports Windows XP." There is a feature. If you buy the cheapest Sempron 2650, you can easily build a system that reads the contents of a Zip using parts you have on hand. The AM1B-ITX will soon be discontinued.

Japan's cheapest motherboard AM1B-ITX is an AM1 platform, and it has a parallel port and supports Windows XP.No way in 2016, people who use AM1B-ITX because they want to read Zip will appear. ASRock probably didn't expect it either (no, did they expect it to have a parallel port!?)

　By the way, this USB type has a skeleton specification so you can see inside. The internal structure is basically the same as the parallel port connection, and the assembly method is almost the same, but it has a completely screwless structure and is simple enough to be assembled 100% tool-free.

　However, this time, unfortunately, the Zip media that I received seemed to be useless, and although I could see the folder when I accessed it, I couldn't read it. I also tried formatting, but it failed to complete due to frequent recognition of bad sectors, and the media became completely unusable as it was. The storage environment may have been bad, but it seems that the life of the media will not reach MO.

The USB connection interface purchased at a certain hard off in Chiba prefecture is USB.The housing structure is basically the same as the parallel version.The amazing structure that everything can be assembled without tools.Some of the disk units are also skeleton specifications. I won't go into detail about the removed circuit board

Zip developer Iomega was acquired by EMC in 2008, but when EMC and Lenovo formed a partnership in 2012, Iomega's assets became a joint venture with Lenovo. transferred to the company. So the Iomega brand and support information is now on Lenovo's site. Meanwhile, EMC was recently acquired by Dell.

　From a global perspective, the penetration rate of Zip is higher than that of MO, PD, SuperDisk, etc., but in Japan, since MO was often used in government agencies and the publishing industry, MO is more popular. overwhelming rate. As of October 2016, the existence of the MO disc is still within the company, and when I asked the editorial department where it was placed, "I'm still using it repeatedly in my dealings with the printing shop, but what is it?" I was told.