Linux Format forums

Steogede · LXF regular Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:39 pm Posts: 146

Anyone ever heard the term 'stiffy drive' seems it quite common in South Africa to call a 3.5 inch floppy drive a stiffy drive.

Just thought I would share that with you all.

TheDoctor · LXF regular Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:02 pm Posts: 325

I've never heard this, but I surmise that it's been around a long while.

To remind people, and inform the young, 5.25inch (and 8 inch) floppy disks were genuinely floppy. 3.5 inch ones, which I first saw around 1987, are not. To state the obvious, 3.5 inch ones are only called 'floppy' because they fulfil the same function as the older varieties.

I suppose someone decided not to separate words and meaning in this way and so coined the term 'stiffy'. I'd have more expected it from the Australians, but - hey- who said the world had to work the way I expected it?

Does 'stiffy' have a sexual connotation in South Africa?

alloydog · LXF regular Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:32 pm Posts: 600

Yes, it seems stiffies are alive and well:
AlltheWeb.com: Web results for "stiffy drive"...

Hello · LXF regular Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:51 pm Posts: 249

nelz · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:15 pm Post subject:

Nigel · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:53 am Post subject:

Yes, "Linux Format, Big Round Shiny Disc edition" does have a certain ring to it Very Happy

And Mike would be the "Big Round Shiny Disc Editor" Laughing

nelz · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:13 am Post subject:

That title would have been more appropriate for me Sad

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Nigel · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:25 am Post subject:

Probably... so does that mean Mike would be the "Little Big Round Shiny Disc Editor" Question

M-Saunders · Moderator Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:14 pm Posts: 2883

What about laserdiscs?

M

Nigel · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:48 am Post subject:

Giant Round Shiny Discs ?
Haven't seen one of those for years...

nelz · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

Obsolete Round Shiny Discs Smile

_________________
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (Albert Einstein)

pins · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject:

isn't "round ... disc", redundant: there aren't non-round discs, are there?

nelz · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject:

Well, it started off with disks but got corrupted along the way.
_________________
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (Albert Einstein)

shifty_ben · Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:24 am Post subject:

With the exception of the LXF coverdisk, all the disks I seem to receive through the post (i.e. please please please come over to AOL) are termed shiny coffee mats, and on the odd occassion bouncy frisbees Smile

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nelz · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:19 am Post subject:

How about "microwave pyrotechnic enhancers"? Smile

_________________
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (Albert Einstein)