Iomega Zip 250 USB
Iomega Zip 250 USB
The Iomega Zip 250USB is the latest incarnation of the popular “SuperFloppy” solution from Iomega. When introduced in 1995, the Zip drive was the challenger to the 44 or 88mb SyQuest, then the dominant removable storage media on the market. Zip drives were widely adopted by the prepress world, where the (then) mammoth 100mb capacity offered designers an easy solution for file transportation.
That which sets this incarnation of Zip apart from its SCSI and parallel brethren is the enclosure. More than just a sleek, elegant shell, the USB nature of the beast means that both power and data flow through the same cable, hence no need for a cumbersome external power supply. This is a boon for those wanting to share files from their laptops.
The Zip 250 USB sports the same basic features as its SCSI or parallel brethren, namely:
- Compatible with USB-enabled PC and Macintosh systems.
- Requires MacOS 8.1 or higher, or Windows 95, Windows 98, or
Windows NT 4.0. - Connects via PCMCIA interface with Windows 95 or Windows 98.
- PCMCIA connection is host powered and does not require an external power supply.
- Hot plug and play, except Windows NT 4.0.
- Up to 900KB/sec transfer rate.
- Includes IomegaWare™ 2.1 with the latest software advancements from Iomega including QuikSync instant backup utility.
- Compatible with both 100MB and 250MB Zip disks.
- Compatible with more than 200 million 100MB Zip disks shipped to date.
At $179, the Zip 250 USB is an inexpensive and widely supported solution for keeping your files mobile. That the Zip is the most prevalent solution for removable storage is what keeps it a viable option. There are over200 million Zip disks floating around the computer world, and some 32 million Zip drives out there to read them. While there are other options in the same price or capacity arena (the 120mb SuperDisk or th 2.2gb Orb), it is often difficult to find a printer or service bureau which has a compatible drive.
The biggest issue with the new Zip 250 is backward compatibility. The drives will read and write 100 mb disks, but so slowly as to be almost unusable. This is a major factor when planning an upgrade if you intend to continue using your library of older disks.
This article was last modified on June 30, 2023
This article was first published on March 10, 2000
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