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Thread ID: 105917 2009-12-18 20:37:00 Why bits AND bytes? xyz823 (13649) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
840985 2009-12-18 20:37:00 Why not just use one or the other? xyz823 (13649)
840986 2009-12-18 20:49:00 I think its cause bits are the smallest amount of information you can have, and i guess initially internet was so crap it was only moving bits from one place to another.

Thus bps, kbps, etc. a byte is 8 bits, thats why you divide your "bit speed" by 8 to get the bytes per second.

EDIT: I assume you are referring to data speed, cause that's the only instance I can think of that both are used.
Netsukeninja (13296)
840987 2009-12-19 00:46:00 Cause once bits mattered. Now GB matter. pctek (84)
840988 2009-12-19 00:51:00 Why have millimeters and centimeters? Agent_24 (57)
840989 2009-12-19 02:45:00 Why have millimeters and centimeters?

True well actually the metric system as devised by Napoleon and cohorts only had a two tier measurement designed to replace the 3 tier imperial system which consisted of Inches, Feet and Yards. The replacement was devised as Millimetres and Metres only with No Centimetres :2cents:
gary67 (56)
840990 2009-12-19 03:09:00 I ALSO THINK LOWER-CASE LETTERS ARE A WASTE OF TIME. pablo d (15490)
840991 2009-12-19 04:30:00 I ALSO THINK LOWER-CASE LETTERS ARE A WASTE OF TIME.

no, capitals are.
pctek (84)
840992 2009-12-19 05:07:00 Seriously though, it's more useful to talk in bits for some things and bytes for others.

Anyone working with encryption levels for instance, wouldn't want to hear about it in bytes, as you'd instinctively convert it into bits so that it's a meaningful number.
pablo d (15490)
840993 2009-12-19 09:37:00 Yeah it has to do with way back in the day, a bit is either on or off, a 1 or a 0.
Look in to words, nibbles, bytes, they all have meanings...
Chilling_Silence (9)
840994 2009-12-19 10:33:00 Wanna blow your mind on bits and bytes -- try a Geopbyte :D OK have a read (http://www.whatsabyte.com/) wainuitech (129)
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