Abbreviation for quarter-inch cartridge, pronounced quick, a standard for magnetic tape drives. QIC tapes are among the most popular tapes used for backing up personal computers. QIC tapes are divided into two general classes: full-size (also called data-cartridge) and minicartridge.
The QIC-40 and QIC-80 standards are sometimes referred to as floppy tape standards because they are designed to use a personal computer’s existing floppy disk drive controller instead of requiring a customized controller.
The newest set of QIC standards are based on the Travan technology developed by 3M.
The various QIC standards are controlled by a consortium of manufacturers called the Quarter-Inch Cartridge Drive Standards, Inc. The term QIC, therefore, is used to refer both to the type of tape and to the standards-producing organization.
