< hardware , storage > A reel of magnetic tape about 4 inches in diameter and one inch wide. Unlike today's macrotapes , microtape drivers allowed random access to the data, and therefore could be used to support file systems and even for swapping (this was generally done purely for hack value , as they were far too slow for practical use). DECtape was a variant on LINCtape .
In their heyday DECtapes were used in pretty much the same ways one would now use a floppy disk : as a small, portable way to save and transport files and programs.
(1995-03-16)