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Sticking with the GB example: GB is the SI unit symbol for gigabyte. The SI prefix giga denotes 1000³. The proper way to denote a drive size in terms of 1024³ b
by garrettgrimsley 11y ago
Sticking with the GB example: GB is the SI unit symbol for gigabyte. The SI prefix giga denotes 1000³. The proper way to denote a drive size in terms of 1024³ bytes would be gibibytes, or GiB.
- andromeduck 11y agoThe byte notation doesn't make any sense to me if you're using SI. It's kind of like saying Giga Inches or KiloCM, just seems wrong
- khedoros 11y agoI'd consider a byte to be like a mole: it's the base unit that we actually use, and it's proper to apply an SI prefix to, but it's defined as a specific multiple of a smaller unit (8 bits vs 6.02 * 10^^23 particles). "Giga inches" sounds wrong for two reasons: first, that larger distances like that are customarily expressed in units more suited to their scale, and second, that that measurement system generally doesn't use SI-style prefixes. "KiloCM" sounds wrong because you're applying two SI prefixes to one unit and using the wrong capitalization for both "centi" and "meter". kcm could technically be represented by the "dam" unit, although it's more common to show things in that scale just as meters.
- andromeduck 11y agoWell KiloMol is pretty weird too. IDK,I just think going with bits is neater.
- brucedawson 11y agoKiloCM does sound wrong, but it is interesting that we happily say "1,000 km", when we could say "1 Gm". Fashion and familiarity in that case. I need to remember to say "it's 3.8 Gm from Seattle to New York".