Re: why bytes are Bs and not bs

Subject: Re: why bytes are Bs and not bs
From: Geoff Lane <geoff -at- GJCTECH -dot- FORCE9 -dot- NET>
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 10:04:46 +0100

On 7 June, Julie A Landry wrote:

> [...] I dunno, but most places I've worked preferred
> MB. (It was listed that way in the IBM dictionary of computer terms,
too.)

I've always understood B=bytes and b=bits. This is particulary important
when citing data transfer rates because 1MB/s = 8Mb/s. However, it is
safer to follow the instructions given in BS4884 and to define whichever
term you choose in the glossary and at the first instance of use.

Geoff Lane
Technical Author/lllustrator
GJC Technical Ltd.
mailto:geoff -at- gjctech -dot- force9 -dot- net

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