Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:55:26 +0100 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Malcolm Kay <malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org, rob1940@gmail.com Subject: Re: WD External Disc Drive Message-ID: <20091027145526.e3a2bbec.freebsd@edvax.de> 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 15:27:23 +1030, Malcolm Kay <malcolm.kay@internode.on.net> wrote: > An arbitrary convention adopted by you and a few other people > does not invalidate the dictionary spellings and usage. As I mentioned before, the (hard) disk vs. (optical) disc differentiation seems to be quite german-specific, allthough older IBM material of the mainframe era refers to "disks" when talking about DASD, and "disk packs" in general. The topic "External Disc Drive" would, according to what I have learned, usually refer to an external CD or DVD drive, while an "external disk drive", or more precise an "external hard disk drive" would describe a hard disk. > 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. That's interesting to know. I like to learn new things from this list, even when it's about correct spelling. > I find your distinctions arbitrary and quite inappropriate; > again not meaning to sound impolite. I have to apologize that I grew up in my "IT career" with exactly the interpretation I mentioned. Furthermore, it seems to be very common in Germany, as well as the usage of "disk" for any kind of hard disk, as illustrated by the FreeBSD handbook. > So, each to his/her own > usage but please do not be critical of those of us not > conforming to your arbirary conventions. Malcolm, I will keep this in mind. As soon as someone asks questions about "/etc folders" and "IDE controllers", I will be back. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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