Bill, I yield to you as an expert on communications technology.
In my original posting on this topic, I spelled out the names of the "units" in an attempt to avoid the lingering questions on correct numbers and symbols. Gene. ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:58:14 -0800 >From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [USMA:40162] RE: Off Topic - Internet Speeds >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > >I'm sorry, but that's incorrect. > >Data communication speeds are always expressed in decimal thousands, >millions, etc. (except for those who express them incorrectly). The >structural constraints of computer memory don't apply. The now unused >(because we've moved on) 28.8 kbit/s data rate is just that--28 800 bit/s. > >The use of b for bit is, as far as I know, not yet clearly established. The >standards organizations have historically used bit/s, kbit/s, Mbit/s (and, >more recently Gbit/s) in their standards documentation. I have followed suit >for many years. As an abbreviation of "binary digit," bit is already >suitable for use as a symbol (although, as it has nothing to do with SI, >we're not obliged to refer to it as a symbol). > >(B, for byte, seems to have been established and adopted, although I'm not >sure octet has disappeared yet.) > >Bill Potts >Roseville, CA >http://metric1.org [SI Navigator]
