Dreamcast Zip Drive

From Sega Retro

Dczipdrive.jpg
Dreamcast Zip Drive
Made for: Sega Dreamcast
Manufacturer: Sega, Iomega
Type: Storage

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Dreamcast Zip Drive is an unreleased add-on for the Sega Dreamcast, allowing for data to be saved to Zip disks. It was designed by Sega in conjunction with Iomega, creator of the storage format.

Hardware

The drive was conceived after there was a strong demand for more storage space than Sega servers were offering to save email and web pages onto. The drive could also save game-update data such as new map data for Quake. The 100MB storage disk drive is essentially the same as the ones made for PC's with slight modifications made to make it compatible with the Dreamcast.

The device was made to fit under the Dreamcast, using the slot the modem plugs into on the console. The modem then plugged into the side of the Zip drive. Also included is a front-mounted USB port, which would have allowed the connection of all kinds of new peripherals, to help promote the console as a home entertainment/information system.

The Dreamcast formatted Zip disks were not set to be compatible with the PC Zip drives, but it was suggested that software for the PC would eventually be released to solve this issue.

History

The Zip drive reportedly made it to a late stage of development, being priced at $199 USD and being set for release during the third quarter of 2000. The reason for its cancellation is unclear, though the Zip disk format was already in decline by mid-1999, and it was likely an expensive add-on to manufacture.

A prototype of the unit is known to exist, and was last spotted on eBay in autumn 2007.

Magazine articles

Main article: Dreamcast Zip Drive/Magazine articles.

External links

References


Sega Dreamcast
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History (Development | Release | Decline and legacy | Internet) | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan (Special) | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | North America | Asia | South America | Australasia | Africa
Add-ons Dreamcast Karaoke | Dreameye
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Controller Add-ons Jump Pack (Third-party) | Microphone | VMU (4x Memory Card | Third-party)
Development Hardware Dev.Box | Controller Box | Controller Function Checker | Sound Box | GD-Writer | C1/C2 Checker | Dev.Cas | GD-ROM Duplicator
Online Services/Add-ons Dreamarena | SegaNet | WebTV for Dreamcast | Modem | Modular Cable | Modular Extension Cable | Broadband Adapter | Dreamphone
Connector Cables Onsei Setsuzoku Cable | RF Adapter | Scart Cable | S Tanshi Cable | Stereo AV Cable | VGA Box

Dreamcast MIDI Interface Cable | Neo Geo Pocket/Dreamcast Setsuzoku Cable | Taisen Cable

Misc. Hardware Action Replay CDX | Code Breaker | Kiosk | MP3 DC | MP3 DC Audio Player | Official Case | Treamcast
Third-party accessories Controllers | Controller converters | Miscellaneous
Unreleased Accessories DVD Player | Zip Drive | Swatch Access for Dreamcast | VMU MP3 Player
Arcade Variants NAOMI | Atomiswave | Sega Aurora