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Subject:Re: why bytes are Bs and not bs From:Jeff or Steph <koosfam -at- ADVANCENET -dot- NET> Date:Sat, 7 Jun 1997 09:39:46 -0700
I have been involved in the incorporation of standard terminology since
before it was standard. The reason "b" differs from "B" is as follows:
a "b" is a bit, either a 0 or a 1.
a "B" represents a coherent and discrete set of bits (thus, the
uppercase, representing a metaset of components.)
A "meg" is a million bytes, correctly represented as "MB," (Note the
uppercase "B") due to the metric prefix abbreviations.
At CSC Intelicom, Inc., I currently dealt with the same "Mb" v. "MB"
notations with my work on an Installation and Operations manual in which
the previous release was incorrect (due to an ill-informed and
unresponsive editor.)
As a programmer, I know which is correct. Refer to any computer basics
manual for any confirmation.
--Jeff Kooser
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