# Commodore 1551

> floppy disk drive

**Wikidata**: [Q337770](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q337770)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_1551)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/commodore-1551

## Summary
The Commodore 1551 is a floppy disk drive manufactured by Commodore International. It is classified as a computer peripheral and removable-media drive designed to read and write data on floppy disks.

## Key Facts
*   **Manufacturer:** Commodore International
*   **Classification:** Floppy disk drive (Instance of); Computer peripheral; Removable-media drive
*   **Identifiers:**
    *   C64 Wiki ID: `Commodore_1551`
    *   Freebase ID: `/m/03245t`
    *   Wikidata Description: Floppy disk drive
*   **Media:** Available in Wikipedia languages: Commons, German (de), English (en), Spanish (es), Italian (it), Russian (ru), Swedish (sv).
*   **Sitelink Count:** 7
*   **Functionality:** Reads and writes data on removable floppy disks for storage and transfer.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of device is the Commodore 1551?
A: The Commodore 1551 is a floppy disk drive, which is a type of computer peripheral or component classified as a removable-media drive.

### Q: Who manufactured the Commodore 1551?
A: The Commodore 1551 was manufactured by Commodore International.

### Q: How does the Commodore 1551 function as a storage device?
A: As a floppy disk drive, it uses magnetic heads to read and write data on flexible magnetic disks encased in plastic cartridges, facilitating data portability and file backup.

### Q: What are the standard technical features of floppy disk drives like the Commodore 1551?
A: Floppy disk drives typically connect via floppy drive power connectors and insulation-displacement connectors. Common formats for this technology include 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch sizes, with rotation speeds typically around 300 RPM.

## Why It Matters
The Commodore 1551 represents a key era in computing history where floppy disk drives revolutionized data portability and storage. As a product of Commodore International, it belongs to a class of devices that enabled users to transfer files between computers and backup critical information, playing a pivotal role in the widespread adoption of personal computers in the 1970s–1990s. These drives provided a practical, low-cost storage medium that laid the foundational practices for later storage technologies, extending the relevance of systems through higher-capacity formats before the eventual shift to optical discs and solid-state storage.

## Notable For
*   **Removable Media Innovation:** As a floppy disk drive, it represents technology that pioneered portable storage with writable disks.
*   **Commodore Ecosystem:** Manufactured by Commodore International, distinct from other notable models like the Commodore 1541 (designed for the C64).
*   **Data Portability:** Enabled the transfer of files and distribution of software, a standard practice in 1980s–1990s computing.
*   **Format Standards:** Part of the evolutionary transition of disk drive designs, typically utilizing 5.25-inch or 3.5-inch formats.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
The Commodore 1551 is explicitly defined as a **floppy disk drive**, a computer peripheral classified as a **disk drive**, **peripheral**, and **removable-media drive**. It functions by reading and writing data on removable floppy disks, which are flexible magnetic disks encased in plastic cartridges. This technology was historically crucial for storage and data transfer before the advent of modern solutions like USB drives.

### Manufacturer and Identity
The device is manufactured by **Commodore International**. It is documented under specific identifiers across various knowledge bases:
*   **C64 Wiki ID:** Commodore_1551
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/03245t
*   **Wikidata Description:** Floppy disk drive
*   **Commons Category:** Commodore 1551

### Technical Context of Floppy Disk Drives
As a floppy disk drive, the Commodore 1551 operates within the technical specifications common to its class:
*   **Connectivity:** These drives typically utilize **floppy drive power connectors** and **insulation-displacement connectors**.
*   **Operation:** The device uses magnetic heads to interact with the magnetic media.
*   **Rotation Speed:** Typical drives operate at a rotation speed of **300 RPM**.
*   **Capacity Context:** While specific capacities can vary, the 3.5-inch format (common in the late era of floppy drives) offered up to **1.44 MB** of storage.

### Historical Development and Formats
The Commodore 1551 is part of the history of floppy disk drives which evolved through several form factors:
*   **Early Models:** Early drives utilized 8-inch disks (e.g., MOM MF 6400).
*   **5.25-Inch Drives:** Gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. A notable contemporary Commodore model mentioned in this class is the **Commodore 1541** (iconic for the C64), alongside the **MSD Super Disk**.
*   **3.5-Inch Drives:** Became standard in the 1980s and 1990s (e.g., **Macintosh External Disk Drive**), offering higher capacity and durability.
*   **Late Innovations:** Accelerated drives like the **X10** were introduced as late as 1996.

### Related Models and Ecosystem
The Commodore 1551 exists within a broader ecosystem of notable floppy disk drives. Related or contemporaneous models include:
*   **Commodore 1541:** A 5.25-inch drive for the Commodore 64.
*   **Atari 810/1050:** External drives for Atari computers.
*   **Timex FDD3000:** Compatible with Timex Sinclair and CP/M systems.
*   **DISCiPLE** and **Beta Disk Interface:** Designed specifically for ZX Spectrum computers.

### Legacy
The technology represented by the Commodore 1551 standardized portable storage practices, influencing the development of later removable media like Zip drives and USB sticks. While largely replaced by optical discs and solid-state storage in the late 1990s, these drives remain significant for legacy system maintenance and retro computing.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013