slightly OT: marketeering 'b'

Hugh_C

I really have a problem with the difference between b and B when it comes to marketing network products, and their (in my view) cynical misuse. Wouldn't it be much more transparent if all manufacturers unilaterally decided to drop the b and ONLY use B.

This would mean offering a DSL product of 64k (as opposed to a 512kb), or a 7k modem (as opposed to a 56) or a 128M network (as opposed to gigabit).

I know it doesn't sound as, uhh, sexy, but in terms of being a more recognised measure or feel, it's way more accurate. For example:


'I've just sent you an attachment'
'OK how big is it?'
'2 megs'

If this convo had been in bits rather than bytes, the receiver might have had a fit.

Anyway, I'm campaigning for dropping the 'b'

hc

Paulw

Originally posted by hughchal
I really have a problem with the difference between b and B when it comes to marketing network products, and their (in my view) cynical misuse. Wouldn't it be much more transparent if all manufacturers unilaterally decided to drop the b and ONLY use B.

This would mean offering a DSL product of 64k (as opposed to a 512kb), or a 7k modem (as opposed to a 56) or a 128M network (as opposed to gigabit).

I know it doesn't sound as, uhh, sexy, but in terms of being a more recognised measure or feel, it's way more accurate.

What are you talking about ???? b and B ??

As for modem speeds ... they are quoted as a baud rate, which is accurate. The actual transfer across your line is totally dependant on line quality.

DSL is also effected by line quality, contention, and back end bandwidth.

Hugh_C

Originally posted by Paulw
What are you talking about ???? b and B ??

bit vs: bytes

kin9pin

Originally posted by Paulw
back end bandwidth.

fnaarr fnaarr

cgarvey

While you're at it, sort out the whole "1MB=1,000,000 bytes and 1MB=1,048,576bytes" thing too, please.

.cg

Paulw

simple

8 bits = 1 byte
1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes =
1 MB = 1024 kilobytes = 1,048,576 bytes
1 GB = 1024 MB = 1,048,576 kilobytes = 1,073,741,824
bytes

Stephen

Generally, when speaking in a computer networking context we use bits. When speaking of things inside the computer (like hard drive capacities, memory bandwidth etc) we use bytes.
Also, hard disk manufacturers, being the marketing whores that they are, refer to 1,000 MB as 1 GB when clearly it is not 1GB. Thus the lower-capacity-than-advertised feature of most hard disks.

Hugh_C

Originally posted by Stephen
Generally, when speaking in a computer networking context we use bits. When speaking of things inside the computer (like hard drive capacities, memory bandwidth etc) we use bytes.

Yep I know we do, all I'm saying is that marketing types, whether through ignorance or deceit, use it in a misleading way.

cgarvey

Originally posted by hughchal
Yep I know we do, all I'm saying is that marketing types, whether through ignorance or deceit, use it in a misleading way.

Yup, I second that .. I know whats what (thanks anyway), its just its deliberately misleading... anyway it doesn't bother me that much!

.cg