@dirkdierickx@mastodon-belgium.be
2026-09-13 10:16 UTC
#TodayInHistory 1956 - #IBM introduces the IBM 350 Disk File, the first hard drive, as part of the IBM RAMAC 305 computer.
The drive features fifty double-sided 24-inch diameter platters, served by one arm and one read/write head. Capacity is about 5 MB, the disks spin at 1200 rpm, and transfer rate is 8800 characters per second. The IBM RAMAC 305 system with 350 disk storage leased for $3,200 per month.
#retrocomputing #hardware #storage
Replies (1)
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@harrysintonen@infosec.exchange 2026-09-13 10:51
@dirkdierickx@mastodon-belgium.be Remarkably the basic theory of operation hasn't changed significantly in about 70 years. Vertically locating head was replaced with multiple heads, the head was put on a pivot arm, but other than that the developments have mostly been just making things smaller and faster.