Gizmodo: floppies

Old School Computer Band Rocks Bohemian Rhapsody (Poorly)

Jack Loftus — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EDT

I can't think of a more old school, geeky tribute to Queen than a band comprised of an Atari 800XL, 8-inch floppy disk, 3.5-in hard drive and HP Scanjet 3C. If only it sounded better.

The composer, YouTube user bd594, says what you hear is 100% pure, straight from the machines themselves—no effects or sampling were used. In the case of the Scanjet, the "vocals" were recorded in four separate parts using the one machine.

The aforementioned Atari 800XL is tickling the ivory on lead piano/organ, while a plucky Texas Instruments Ti-99/4a shreds on lead guitar. Rounding out the bunch are the floppy drive on bass and the hard drive clanging cymbals. As many have suggested already, the "instruments" could use a good tuning or ten.

On a related note, Scanjet symphonies seem to be in the air right now. Must be spring. [YouTube via Matrxisynth - Thanks, Matrix]

Please Insert Drink 5 of 12 to Continue Alcoholism

Erica Ho — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:15:00 EST

This hand-sewn floppy disk coaster set will put you back $28 for stain-free coffee-table goodness for the neat-freak nerd. Available in five colors, it'll also make you reminisce for the times you sat there for forty minutes, inserting floppy disk after floppy disk to install Microsoft Office 6.0. At least you won't have to worry about those drink stains when you are sitting in front of the television Election Night, with your ol' friend Jack Daniels, choosing between celebration or consolation. It's a shame they don't cure hangovers for a bright and early day at work Wednesday morning! [Etsy via GeekSugar]

Floppy Coasters Help You Party Like It's 1979

AddyDugdale — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:37:11 EST

Designed by Greek geeks-at-heart Supermandolini, these floppy coasters are cute things to stick beneath your drinks. Measuring 3.5" square, a set of six will cost you $41 and make you wish you were still licking your brother at Asteroids all over again. [SuperMandolini]

Floppies to CDs: "Who the $&@* are you?"

Mark Wilson — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:40:19 EST

Just as burning a girlfriend a CD will never be as romantic as making her a mix tape, so too will sharing pirated software prove a heartfelt disappointment on anything but floppy. So one (genius?) designer has made CD-Rs that look like 3.5" floppies. At $8 apiece (for 200MB) in packs of 4, they aren't the best bang for your buck—but if and when a new Wing Commander ever hits PCs, you'll have the proper media to share it. [product via crunchgear]