Apple Disk III (1980)
Apple Disk III (1980): a 5.25-inch 143 KB external floppy drive for the Apple III; the first Disk II variant, with the identical Shugart mechanism in a modified case.
Specs
| Reference | Disk III (A3M0004) |
| Launch / discontinued | 1980 / — |
| CPU | — |
| Memory | — |
| Storage | 5.25″ 143 KB floppy |
| Display / graphics | — |
| Expansion / ports | Proprietary 26-pin connector; up to 3 drives daisy-chained |
| US launch price | — |
Launch
It shipped alongside the Apple III in 1980 (part A3M0004), the first Apple computer with a built-in floppy drive. Its 26-pin connector allowed daisy-chaining up to three external drives, four floppies in total.
Marketing
It was the only floppy drive officially compatible with the Apple III, whose controller sat on the logic board. Apple hoped to sell new drives, but many users adapted their cheaper Disk II units; only one drive could be used that way.
Flaws and fixes
The proprietary connector made expansion costly and tied users to Apple's own drive. With the Apple III Plus (1983), the port moved to DB-25 and the Disk III needed an official adapter to keep working.
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Updated: October 24, 2026 · Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia · Compare this product