Even if your Apple IIe is long gone, you'll soon have a chance to get at your old data again, when Device Side Data (www.deviceside.com) holds the second public demonstration of a new USB floppy interface.
USB floppy drives are widely available, but those currently on the market only support 3.5" disks. The new interface, due to be released later this year, connects to 5.25" drives. It will also allow the owners of modern computers to read a variety of old disk formats that ordinary floppy controllers no longer support.
The demo will take place on Saturday, January 27th, 2007, at the famous W6TRW swap meet in Redondo Beach, California. Attendees are invited to bring along a few disks and have image copies made.
The final product will read many disk formats, but the prototype only reads Apple II disks, so please leave your IBM or CP/M floppies at home for now.
The W6TRW swap meet runs from 7 AM to 11:30 AM in the Northrop Grumman parking lot near the intersection of Aviation and Marine in Redondo Beach. There is no fee to attend. Once there, look for the spinning disk in row C. Besides Device Side Data, many other vendors will also be present, with a wide range of equipment for sale.
This is an outdoor event and will proceed regardless of weather. Please carry your disks in waterproof bags in case of rain.