Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:21:37 +1030 From: Malcolm Kay <malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Cc: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de>, rob1940@gmail.com Subject: Re: WD External Disc Drive Message-ID: <200910271621.37761.malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> In-Reply-To: <200910271527.23227.malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> References: <aab0909a0910251718q4dc26baeu7c0a452add98d783@mail.gmail.com> <20091026110905.f802174a.freebsd@edvax.de> <200910271527.23227.malcolm.kay@internode.on.net>
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On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:27 pm, Malcolm Kay wrote: > On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:39 pm, Polytropon wrote: > > Hi Rob, > > > > just a little terminology note (from me, Mister > > Use-the-correct-words): If you are refering to a kind of > > hard disk, use "disk" with k. Think like "diskette". If you > > are refering to optical media, use "disc" with c. Think like > > "CD = compact disc". > > An arbitrary convention adopted by you and a few other people > does not invalidate the dictionary spellings and usage. > > My Australian (Macquarie) dictionary gives the spelling in all > cases as "disc" but recognises "disk" as a chiefly US variant. > My Conscise Oxford (English) dictionary simply gives the two > spellings as alternatives but states that "disk" is the > better. My Webster's (American) gives the two forms as > alternatives without suggesting any preference. Of course > different editions of the dictionaries may give slightly > different slants but are most unlikely to actually contradict > these possibly earlier views. > > > Disk: disk pack, hard disk, disk drive > > Disc: optical disc, magneto-optical disc, disc drive > > > > In your special case, you can even say that your external > > hard disk shows up as a disc in "Windows". It's correct. > > > > I know it may sound impolite (but it is not meant to be), > > but using the correct terminology is very important if you > > want to be understood correctly. > > I find your distinctions arbitrary and quite inappropriate; > again not meaning to sound impolite. So, each to his/her own > usage but please do not be critical of those of us not > conforming to your arbirary conventions. > Further, If we look at some acronyms associated with optical media we have: CD -> Compact Disc DVD -> Digital Video Disc but: UDF -> Universal Disk Format (The file system frequently used on CDs and DVDs) So there is no consistency here! Malcolm
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