dectape
     
         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
     
     
see also:
magnetic tape macrotapes random access file systems swapping hack value 
linctape floppy disk