Date: 20 Feb 2002 20:38:08 -0800 From: swear@blarg.net (Gary W. Swearingen) To: Michael Wardle <michael.wardle@adacel.com> Cc: parv <parv_@yahoo.com>, Giorgos Keramidas <keramida@ceid.upatras.gr>, Wouter Van Hemel <wouter@pair.com>, doc@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: inconsistent use of data units Message-ID: <u3adu3bgb3.du3@localhost.localdomain> In-Reply-To: <3C7464B4.70004@adacel.com> References: <3C743707.3080505@adacel.com> <20020221003116.GA11893@hades.hell.gr> <3C744D39.1020308@adacel.com> <1014256250.304.66.camel@cocaine> <3C745639.8080509@adacel.com> <20020221022225.GA12900@hades.hell.gr> <3C745D8B.9090808@adacel.com> <20020221025358.GB2678@moo.holy.cow> <3C7464B4.70004@adacel.com>
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> > > and ... unless noted otherwise, in computer context, i do not ever > > assume 'kilo' to represent 1000 number, only 1024. > > This is part of the problem. kilo only ever means 1000, and to use it > otherwise is incorrect. You can not steal SI prefixes and redefine them > how you wish. SI prefixes are defined for use on SI units, aren't they? As far as I'm concerned, "byte" is a computer-industry unit with associated jargonized prefixes. When you're talking about bytes or words, k, K, M, G, T, etc, have non-SI meanings and everyone should know that. The disk drive people are just wrong; some would say liars. The case with "bits" is less well agreeded upon and if it isn't explained in the context, prefixes will confuse many and should be considered ambiguous. I'd prefer some FDP introduction explain this and that "B" means "byte" and "b" means "bit", though I wouldn't mind a requirement to use the full words except where the meaning is clear from the context or a note. P.S. It's unfortunate that our industry borrowed terms and used them in familiar contexts with strange meanings (as I hate to see happening with "proprietary", BTW), but it has happened and attempts to introduce "bi" prefixes will cause more trouble than it solves. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-doc" in the body of the message
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