Mark Griffin wrote:
I believe for computer uses there are 1024 Kilobytes in a Megabyte. I am not sure why it is not 1000, like it is for everything else.Computers are on the base 8 counting method in other words multiples of 8. 8 x 128 = 1024
Computers use base 2 -- binary.
In order to give "kilo" or "thousand" the same ballpark meaning in binary, 2**10, or 1024 (in base 10), was selected by convention. See the now-defunkt thread "MAC vs Mac" in the LEM G-Books mailing list archive for full details and then some. :)
1024 bytes = 1 KB (kilobyte) 1024 KB = 1 MB (megabyte) 1024 MB = 1 GB (gigabyte) 1024 GB = 1 TB (terabyte)
The way we divide the binary digits is also a convenience. If you take them 3 at a time, you can easily represent numbers in Octal (base 8). If you take them 4 at a time, you get Hexadecimal (base 16). That's probably what you were thinking of.
- Dan.
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