Reply:
The short answer is "No." The more complicated answer is "No, but ..."
Until recently, I recommend a floppy drive on most computers I made. Here is why:
 | There are occasions in the maintenance or upgrading of a computer that a floppy is nice to have. For example: one such occasion is when a new hard drive is being configured. |
| There are certain problems can be addressed by booting a diagnostic or service routine off a floppy. |
| Microsoft Windows provides for possible operating system recovery from a floppy drive. |
I no longer believe a computer is incomplete if it lacks a floppy drive. Bootable CD/DVD optical media are now ubiquitous.
Revised: 20 June 2007