[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: How to configure konqueror to show KB and MB instead of KiB and
From:       Michael Pyne <mpyne () kde ! org>
Date:       2009-07-01 5:53:39
Message-ID: 200907010153.45641.mpyne () kde ! org
[Download RAW message or body]

[Attachment #2 (multipart/signed)]


On Wednesday 01 July 2009 01:38:02 Sven Burmeister wrote:
> Am Mittwoch, 1. Juli 2009 00:42:28 schrieb Michael Pyne:
> > It's not fuzzy.  Everyone knew what MB, KB, etc. meant with regards to
> > computers, otherwise they wouldn't have been the units used for decades.
>
> Everyone? I claim that most computer users on this planet only have a very
> vague/abstract knowledge of what a byte or kilobyte is. The conclusion that
> just because something has been used for a long time means that it is
> understood is very brave in my opinion.

And if they don't have more than a vague knowledge of what a kilobyte is, what 
does it matter (and more importantly, gain) what a kibibyte is?  Who else uses 
kibibyte?  Nobody!

I would certainly feel confident in assuming that a unit which has just been 
devised a few years ago and is not in any kind of large usage would be far 
less understood than the binary units we had preceding it.  Which begs the 
question again, why are we the ones switching?  From what I can tell GNOME 
doesn't, and various GNOME apps which do are patched in Debian not to for 
consistency.  We at least are consistently right or wrong from what I can 
tell.

But please don't try to convince me that *kibibytes* are the term that is 
understood by more people.  All that it does is make some persons feel like 
some kind of weight has been lifted off their shoulders, like the metric 
police were about to break down their door because they've been "mis-using" 
kilo, mega, etc. for decades.  It doesn't actually clear up any confusion, 
instead it creates more.

Regards,
 - Michael Pyne

["signature.asc" (application/pgp-signature)]

>> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<


[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]