Re:

> And, IIRC, when the 1.44 diskettes crossed over from Macintosh to the PC
> (albeit with different formatting), hard drives were, what? about 40MB? One

The Mac wasn't the first computer to use 3.5" floppies...nor the first to
use double density 3.5" floppies, nor the first to use double sided 3.5"
floppies :)

The 3.5" drive was demonstrated by Sony in June, 1982.

Sord and Sony both introduced Z80 computers using the drives in 1982.
(single sided, "normal" density)

Before the Mac (and the HP 150), there were already at least two portable
computers using 3.5" stiffies.  Gavilan was one.  Both of them blamed
floppies for their troubles:

(courtesy of a computer collector friend:)
> 1983 September 05 (NB) -- Computer Devices Inc. of Massachusetts, a maker
> of portable computers has posted the fourth quarter-loss in a row, and
> plans to lay off 163 people--that's one quarter of the staff. The maker of
> the DOT portable personal computer says its 3.5-inch stiff disk, made by
> Sony is the problem.  Consumers prefer the standard 5.25-inch floppy. The
> company plans to come up with an optional floppy drive to appease
> consumers. ---- CONTACT: SEAFORTH LYLE, PRESIDENT COMPUTER DEVICES INC.
> BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 617-273-1550 ----

The HP 150, introduced in 1983, used singled sided 3.5" floppies
("stiffies") at introduction, and soon moved to double sided.

(Most dates from: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1981.htm)
..check that page (and subsequent ones) for more info, if you're curious.

--
Stan Sieler                                          [log in to unmask]
                                     http://www.allegro.com/sieler.html