Sony has announced that it will stop selling 3.5 inch floppy disks in March of 2011 because of lack of demand. The decision was precipitated when sales fell from 47 million disks in 2002 to approximately 12 million in 2009. Except for a few niche markets, sales in most countries sales have already been terminated.

The 3.5 inch hard plastic covered floppy disk was introduced by Sony in 1981 as a better solution for removable data storage for personal computers. It quickly replaced its ancestor, the 5.25 floppy disk. The 3.5 inch floppy became ubiquitous because it was a absolutely necessary part of a computer because it was the only way to transfer data from one machine to another unless you were on a network with file sharing capabilities.

Floppy disk sales have been steadily decreasing since the size of files has steadily increased and the introduction of CDs, DVD and Zip drives. But the final death toll arrived with the introduction of inexpensive solid state flash drives with gigabyte storage capability that could fit in your pocket and, unlike floppy disks, were practically indestructible.

When Apple’s 3G iMAC in 1998 and Dell’s dimension in 2003 no longer provided floppy disk drives as standard equipment on their computer, the death toll started ringing. Sony has held approximately 80% of the 3.5 inch floppy disk market in recent years because all of the other major suppliers had already ceased production.

That means there will no longer be connections and drivers needed on any of the new motherboards which will allow manufacturers to use the space to add some new functionality to their products.

Rest in peace our beloved 3.5 inch floppy disk. Many of us will remember you fondly. You are now joining the 5.25 floppy disk, the cassette tape and the 8 track tape in annuals of computer history.