Note
Key Features:
Storage Capacity: The original Jaz drives had a capacity of 1GB per disk, which was later increased to 2GB with the release of a new model in 19981.
Interface: Jaz drives used a SCSI interface, which was common in Apple Macintosh computers but less so in PCs, often requiring an additional SCSI card1. Iomega also produced adapters to connect Jaz drives to parallel ports, USB, and FireWire1.
Performance: The drives offered faster data transfer rates compared to other removable storage solutions of the time, making them suitable for tasks requiring quick access to large files1.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
High storage capacity for the time.
Faster data transfer rates compared to floppy disks and some other removable media.
Portable and relatively easy to use1.
Cons:
The drives were prone to mechanical issues, such as overheating and loading mechanism jams, which could lead to the infamous "click of death"1.
The proprietary nature and higher cost of the disks and drives limited their widespread adoption1.
Competition from CD-R/CD-RW drives, which offered lower cost per megabyte and greater compatibility, hurt the Jaz drive’s market success1.
Despite their innovative design and higher capacity, Jaz drives never achieved the same level of popularity as the Zip drives, partly due to their higher cost and mechanical reliability issues1.