---
title: "Microdrives Shortages Coming"
type: "article"
slug: "microdrives-shortages-coming"
url: "http://localhost/article/microdrives-shortages-coming/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/microdrives-shortages-coming.md"
published_at: "2026-03-15T00:39:04+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-15T00:39:05+00:00"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "Reports that Ablex, the sole manufacturer of QL microdrive tape cartridges, may cease production after 1989 due to unavailability of BASF magnetic tape. Recommends QL users convert to 3.5\" disk drives, citing four reasons: UK software increasingly ships on 3.5\" media, reliability advantages, reduced drive cost ($75-85 with media at $0.59 from MEI), and availability…"
category:
  - name: "Timelinez"
    slug: "timelinez"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/periodicals/timelinez/"
post_tag:
  - name: "QL"
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model:
  - name: "Sinclair QL"
    slug: "sinclair-ql"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/sinclair-ql/"
publication_r:
  id: 21571
  title: "Timelinez"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/timelinez/"
volume: "7"
issue: "12"
issues_articles:
  - id: 38873
    title: "Timelinez v7 n7-12"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/timelinez-v7-n7-12/"
pages: "14"
pubdate: "July-December 1989"
archive_link: false
---

# Microdrives Shortages Coming

Reports that Ablex, the sole manufacturer of QL microdrive tape cartridges, may cease production after 1989 due to unavailability of BASF magnetic tape. Recommends QL users convert to 3.5″ disk drives, citing four reasons: UK software increasingly ships on 3.5″ media, reliability advantages, reduced drive cost ($75-85 with media at $0.59 from MEI), and availability of 5.25″ adapter kits for existing drive bays.