I haven’t touched a DVD, CD, or even a Blu-Ray disc in years, let alone one of the floppy disks the Apple Disk II was designed to load back in the early ’80s. But I might find a reason to use outdated media again just to justify putting this upgraded piece of classic computer hardware on my desk.
Originally released way back in 1978, the Apple Disk II drive could load 5¼-inch floppy disks, which are as ancient as stone tablets at this point. It also cost just shy of $US600 ($746); the equivalent of over $US2000 ($2487) today if you account for inflation.
So with a price tag of $US500 ($622), this resurrected Apple Disk II, modernised by Etsy seller RetroConnector, is quite possibly a bargain?
It can’t load 5 1/4-inch floppies anymore, but it apparently can handle CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs that easily fit into the drive’s original slot, which still has a functional drop-down door on the front.
Inside the Apple Disk II’s housing, there’s also now a two-terabyte hard drive and a USB hub, with all the requisite connectors accessible on the back. If you’ve got a penchant for collecting old hardware, but feel guilty about it just gathering dust on a shelf, this gadget is at least something you could actually use every day.