The IBM 3590 is a series of Tape Drives and corresponding magnetic tape data storage media formats developed by IBM. The first drive, having the IBM product number 3590, was introduced in 1995 under the nickname Magstar. The 3590 series of tape drives and media are not compatible with the IBM 3592 line of drives that replaced it. They can store up to 60 GB of data (uncompressed). This family superseded the IBM 3480 Tape Drives popular in 1980s and 1990s.

Like the 3480 and 3592 formats, this tape format has half inch tape spooled onto 4-by-5-by-1 inch data cartridges containing a single reel. A takeup reel is embedded inside the tape drive. Because of their speed, reliability, durability and low media cost, the 3590 Tape Drives are still in high demand. A hallmark of the genre is transferability. Tapes recorded with one tape drive are generally readable on another drive, even if the tape drives were built by different manufacturers. Magstar tapes and drives are available in 128, 256 and 384-track versions.

SPECS

• 3590 B Model (3590 B11/B1A), 128 tracks
• 3590 E Model (3590 E11/E1A), 256 tracks
• 3590 H Model (3590 H11/H1A), 384 tracks

 3480 Tape Drives    3490 Tape Drives      3490e Tape Drive    3590 Tape Drives

 

LTO Tape Drives	3592 Tape Drive	1120 Tape Drive	9840 & 9940 Tape Drives	DLT Tape Drives	SLR Tape Drives
3590 Tape Drives	3490e Tape Drive	3490 Tape Drives	3480 Tape Drives	DIR & DTF Drives	9 Track Tape Drives
AIT Tape Drives	8mm Tape Drives	4mm Tape Drives	SAIT Tape Drive
New Libraries	LTO Tape Libraries	3590 & 3592 Tape Libraries	9840 & 9940 Tape Libraries	SDLT Tape Libraries	AIT Tape Libraries
Tape Libraries & Autoloaders	(Discontinued) Tape Drives, Libraries & Autoloaders			SAIT Tape Libraries