[comp.periphs.scsi] metric nitpicking, was Re: New 320Meg SCSI drive

esmith@apple.com (Eric Smith) (07/27/90)

In article <45806@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) 
writes:
> Note also, that in the metric system the letters are lower case where
> as the K in KB and the M in MB are upper case...

In the metric system (SI), the prefix for mega (x 10^6) is upper case M.
Lower case m is milli (x 10^-3).

In general all prefixes representing positive powers of ten use an upper
case letter, thus K for kilo, G for giga, etc.

There is a trend (I wouldn't say standard) to use "b" for bit, and "B" for
byte.  Thus you might see a disk with 320 MB capacity and 10.0 Mb/s 
transfer
rate.  A 320 mB disk is obviously impossible, since it would store 2.56
bits.

----
Eric Smith    esmith@apple.com
Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my
employer, family, friends, computer, or even me!  :-)

izumi@fugitive.berkeley.edu (Izumi Ohzawa) (07/28/90)

In article <9447@goofy.Apple.COM> esmith@apple.com (Eric Smith) writes:
>In article <45806@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) 
>writes:
>> Note also, that in the metric system the letters are lower case where
>> as the K in KB and the M in MB are upper case...

>In the metric system (SI), the prefix for mega (x 10^6) is upper case M.
>Lower case m is milli (x 10^-3).

These are correct.

>In general all prefixes representing positive powers of ten use an upper
>case letter, thus K for kilo, G for giga, etc.

Sorry for yet another nitpicking on nitpicking, but "kilo" is
represented with lower case "k", not upper-case.


Izumi Ohzawa, izumi@violet.bekeley.edu

src@scuzzy.mbx.sub.org (Heiko Blume) (08/04/90)

izumi@fugitive.berkeley.edu (Izumi Ohzawa) writes:
>Sorry for yet another nitpicking on nitpicking, but "kilo" is
>represented with lower case "k", not upper-case.

both k AND K stand for "kilo", BUT: 1 kg = 1000 grams; 1Kg = 1024 grams.
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