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Subject:Re: why bytes are Bs and not bs From:Miss Julie A Landry <jalandry -at- DIGITAL -dot- NET> Date:Sat, 7 Jun 1997 11:30:26 -0400
>I've always understood B=bytes and b=bits. This is particulary important
>when citing data transfer rates because 1MB/s = 8Mb/s. However, it is
You're right, of course; I didn't think of that because I never write about
bits.
I agree that using "mb" for a megabyte is asking for trouble if it is
likely to be confused with a millibit. I interpreted the original question
in a micro/mini computer context, where no one even thinks of millibits
because... well, how often do millibits come up in conversation?
The first place I worked was a magazine for Amiga users; they wanted to
call megabytes "megs." In those days (a mere ten years ago), apps and files
on microcomputers were mostly measured by KB and hard disks were still a
luxury, so megabytes were a rare and spectacular thing. (In fact, our
contributers often said "half a meg" meaning 500KB, just for the thrill of
using the expression. Now I see people using GB the same way; "half a gig."
Woo-woo.) The magazine was pointed at hobbyists, who enjoy spraying jargon
around. Not only is meg vague, it's slangy, and although it's fine in
casual discussion, even a hobbyist's magazine shouldn't be *too* casual --
it will discourage people who are exploring the hobby for the first time.
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| You can lead a gift horse to water, but you can't look |
| in his mouth. -- Archie Bunker |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| Julie Landry / Orlando, Florida / jalandry -at- digital -dot- net |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
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