Messages in this thread | | | From | "H. Peter Anvin" <> | Subject | Re: patch for sd.c: fix MB vs. GB | Date | Mon, 28 Dec 1998 15:51:38 -0800 (PST) |
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> > Trick question; "Is this correct?" > > N / 1024 = kilobytes > N / (1024 * 1024) = megabytes > N / (1024 * 1024 * 1024) = gigabytes > > No dictionary I have available defines any of these. Even IEEE Software > Engineering Standards (3rd Addition) doesn't define. The closest I > found was kilobit (1000 bits). This is in Webster's New Collegiate > Dictionary, 1996. > > So, what is the definitive reference that is irrefutable and defines these > terms? This should be answered before we change anything. It just might > be that a kilobyte, megabyte, and gigabyte should be in decimal terms like > kilohertz, megahertz, and gigahertz -- and we've been wrong all along. > > Note that the usual "1.44MB" floppy is 1.40625 MB. > > 18 * 160 * 512 = 1,474,560 > / 1024 = 1,440 > / 1024 - 1.40625 > > It looks to me as though the world has been dividing megabytes by 1,000 > to get gigabytes all along. >
No, IBM has been using 1000*1000*1024 for *DISK* gigabytes for a long time, but noone ever used other than 2 << 30 for memory. I say keep it sane & keep it the same, and to h*** with marketing dept's.
-hpa
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