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From: esmith@apple.com (Eric Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: metric nitpicking, was Re: New 320Meg SCSI drive
Message-ID: <9447@goofy.Apple.COM>
Date: 26 Jul 90 22:39:55 GMT
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References:<5429@darkstar.ucsc.edu> <45806@brunix.UUCP>

In article <45806@brunix.UUCP> rca@cs.brown.edu (Ronald C.F. Antony) 
writes:
> Note also, that in the metric system the letters are lower case where
> as the K in KB and the M in MB are upper case...

In the metric system (SI), the prefix for mega (x 10^6) is upper case M.
Lower case m is milli (x 10^-3).

In general all prefixes representing positive powers of ten use an upper
case letter, thus K for kilo, G for giga, etc.

There is a trend (I wouldn't say standard) to use "b" for bit, and "B" for
byte.  Thus you might see a disk with 320 MB capacity and 10.0 Mb/s 
transfer
rate.  A 320 mB disk is obviously impossible, since it would store 2.56
bits.

----
Eric Smith    esmith@apple.com
Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my
employer, family, friends, computer, or even me!  :-)