The floppy disk was once the universal standard for computing, with billions produced at its peak in 1997. But by 2011, Sony, the last major manufacturer, quietly ceased production, marking the end of an era. This video explores why the floppy disk industry didn't just fade away from obsolescence, but rather collapsed due to a fundamental flaw inherent in its very success.

From its origins at IBM in the 1960s as a way to load mainframe microcode, to its ubiquity in personal computers, the floppy disk became an indispensable part of daily life. Yet, the very factors that made it so widespread and cheap ultimately sealed its fate, leading to a quiet demise that few noticed until it was already over.

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