Iomega Jaz 2GB disketa

The Iomega Jaz 2GB is a removable hard disk developed by Iomega, introduced in the late 1990s as a higher-capacity alternative to the Zip drive. The Jaz disk functioned like a hard drive in a cartridge format, providing portability and larger storage capacity compared to standard storage solutions of that time.

Main Features:

• Media Type: Removable magnetic hard disk
• Capacity:
  • 2GB (second generation, first generation had 1GB)
• Interface:
  • SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
  • Later USB and FireWire via external adapters
• Usage:
  • Backup and transfer of large files
  • Professional use in graphics, DTP, CAD, and multimedia
• Speed: Significantly faster than Zip disks, but still slower than standard internal hard drives
• Compatibility:
  • Required an Iomega Jaz drive
  • Supported on Windows, MacOS, and some Unix systems

History & Significance:

• Jaz disks were meant to replace Zip disks, which had lower capacities (100MB/250MB).
• They were popular among professionals, but suffered from reliability issues – some units were prone to failure, risking data loss.
• Due to high costs and the rise of CD-R, DVD-R, and external HDDs, the format's popularity was short-lived.
• Iomega eventually discontinued Jaz drives in favor of other storage solutions.

Current Status:

• Iomega Jaz is now an obsolete technology, mainly used for accessing old archived data or in vintage computing.
• Jaz disks and drives can still be found on eBay, second-hand markets, and collector sites, but their practical use is limited.