Software or Websites Adopting IEC Standard Binary Prefixes?

August 12, 2004 2:57 PM

The latest version of ReverseConnect uses IEC Standard Binary Prefixes (kibi-, mebi-, gibi-, etc.). Are there other examples of software, websites or other media that are adopting this less ambiguous usage?
posted by signal to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

I hate those "standards". KB means 1024. Why redefine something that was working before just to suit Western Digital et al.
posted by shepd at 3:02 PM on August 12, 2004

Maybe I'm just too oldschool, but that hardly seems "less ambiguous".
posted by cmonkey at 3:11 PM on August 12, 2004

Response by poster: Read the first paragraph of the link, it explains why it's less ambiguous.
posted by signal at 3:18 PM on August 12, 2004

Right, I get the technical distinction. It just doesn't seem like it'll clear too much up in the mind of the general public.
posted by cmonkey at 3:33 PM on August 12, 2004

Oh ugh. Is there anyone, whose opinion actually matters, who is confused by the current usage? I mean, it's obvious by context: if you're talking about computers, you're talking about base 2. If you're talking about science or engineering, you're talking about base 10. And if you're not talking about computers, science, or engineering, you must be an English major or something, and you should leave conversations that involve numbers to the professionals.

Um, sorry, I guess I'm not really answering the question. I've never heard of anyone adopting the "less ambiguous" usage except to evangelize it.
posted by Mars Saxman at 4:28 PM on August 12, 2004

Response by poster: You're right, Mars. That doesn't answer my question.
posted by signal at 6:11 PM on August 12, 2004

Are there other examples of software, websites or other media that are adopting this less ambiguous usage?

As a computerish-dude, I must say that your statement strikes me as not dissimilar to posting "Are there any examples of campaigns, websites or other media that are promoting this flip-floppy john kerry?" to the blue.
posted by Kwantsar at 1:30 AM on August 13, 2004

A webhosting provider that I use (dsvr) has been using this terminology for ages now. Confused the hell out of me the first time I saw it.
posted by seanyboy at 2:42 AM on August 13, 2004