David Starner wrote: > On Tue, Feb 12, 2002 at 08:12:08PM +0100, Marco Cimarosti wrote: > > OK, UTF-8 is my favorite default UTF too. However, whatever > the default is, > > it is easier to just call it "Unicode", and call the other > options "Unicode > > (something else)". > > > > That puts one less acronym in front of the "naive" user. > The expert user is > > supposed to know what the default UTF is on her platform. > > What happens when a user is told to save in UTF-16? What > about when two users running different operating systems > try to pass files about? And why would Unicode be any > clearer to a naive user than UTF-16?
I only have a definite answer for the last question: everybody I know who works on computer know what Unicode is, but I never met out of this mailing list anyone who was familiar with the acronym "UTF-16"... By the way, because of its transparent etymology, the name "Unicode" is also quite self-explanatory. On the other hand, "UTF-16" is just one more 3-letter acronym for one more 16-bit technology, so it could be mistaken with all kinds of computer-related products. > IMO, UTF-16 is as clear as Unicode, and more accurate. Being > consistent among platforms is a needed plus. Perhaps "more accurate", but definitely not "as clear as". _ Marco
