A tape drive, including: a housing including a single character display that displays a single character at a time; and an activator configured such that, when the single character display displays a single character representative of a status of the tape drive, activation of the activator causes the tape drive to further represent the status represented by the single character as information including a plurality of words detailing the status, the information provided by repeatedly spelling out a message, including the plurality of words describing the status of the tape drive, one letter at a time on the single character display, and an audible message provider that provides an audible message, including the plurality of words describing the status of the tape drive.