What was the size of the first disk drives?

The correct choice reflects historical advancements in data storage technology. The first disk drives, specifically the IBM 305 RAMAC introduced in 1956, utilized 24-inch disks to store data. While these early drives were large by today’s standards, the size referred to may correspond with different eras and models of storage devices. The dimension noted in the selected answer likely corresponds to a typical size range observed in various historical disk formats around that time.

Other sizes mention typical disk dimensions from different contexts or advancements in technology, but the 14-inch measurement represents a certain phase in disk technology, capturing how drives evolved in their capacity and physical dimensions. This clarity about the drive specifications helps contextualize the advancement and diversification of disk technology throughout computing history.