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Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 15:23:40 -0500
From: "Eric S. Raymond" <esr@thyrsus.com>
To: Reid Hekman <reid.hekman@ndsu.nodak.edu>
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Configure.help editorial policy
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Reid Hekman <reid.hekman@ndsu.nodak.edu>:
> Perhaps if we could be so bold as to back Donald Knuth's KKB,MMB,GGB
> proposal (of which I learned here:
> http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Large-Disk-HOWTO-3.html ).

Hm.  Attractive, but it doesn't have an ISO standard behind it.

> Whatever we do with the abbreviations, I would strongly recommend we
> spell out documention to help educate ( and ease the transition if we
> switch terms) wherever possible. For example:
> 
> 4 binary kilobyte pages
> 1024 decimal kilobyte disk
> 8.4 decimal gigabyte disks
> 4 binary gigabytes of memory
> 10 decimal gigabits of bandwith
> 
> or if that offends the sensibilities:
> 
> 4 kilobytes (binary)
> 1024 kilobytes (decimal)
> 8.4 gigabytes (decimal)
> 
> I know that they are long on keystrokes, but in lieu of an accepted and
> aesthetically pleasing standard, they are clear and unambiguous.

Good idea.  I will make appropriate changes.
-- 
		<a href="http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/">Eric S. Raymond</a>

Government should be weak, amateurish and ridiculous. At present, it
fulfills only a third of the role.	-- Edward Abbey
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