Re: Memory management FAQ

Matthias Paul and others wrote:

> >> MB  - megabyte (1024*1024 byte, or 1000*1000 byte, depends ;-))

for "1.44MB" floppies, 1000*1024 bytes.

> |>> GB  - gigabyte (1000 or 1024 MB)
> |>> TB  - terabyte (1000 or 1024 GB). [...]
> >
> > To be precise: traditionally size of memory computed by power 2
> > base [...]
> > Moreover, when we (humans) count size of free memory, we also
> > often use decimal multipliers. For example, when someone says
> > "621 Kb of free memory" this usually mean ~607 Kb (=621000/1024/1024).
>
> Usually, the English seem to write "Kb", "Mb", "Gb", "Tb" in either
> notation (you're right about the traditional meaning, of course).
>
> In German the notation is to write "KB", "MB", "GB", "TB", in particular,
> when the numbers are meant to be based on the binary system.
> I have observed, however, that some use "Kb", "Mb", "Gb", "Tb", when the
> numbers are meant to be decimal. It's not used consistently, though.

And some use "b" for bits. I almost never see Gb. In any case there has
been an IEC standard since a few years.
1 kB = 1000 bytes, 1 MB = 1000 kB
1 kiB = 1024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1024*1024 bytes
1 kbit = 1000 bits
1 kibit = 1024 bits
and so on.

It just seems that some people hate this notation...

Bart