-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Turnbull <pete_at_dunnington.u-net.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Friday, 22 January 1999 20:28
Subject: Re: Reiability of wrong media (was: is out of 5-1/4" diskettes
>As Megan pointed out, the maths is wrong. A "1.44MB" disk has 80
>cylinders, two sides, 18 sectors per track, sector size 512 bytes.
>
>80 * 2 * 18 * 512 = 80 * 18 * 1024 = 1440KB
>
>That's where the "1.44" number comes from.
>
>And a Megabyte is normally held to be 1024 * 1024 (megabyte would, I agree,
>be different, 1000 * 1000). But "1.44MB" refers to 1.44 * 1000 * 1024,
>which is a ridiculous way to count. 1440KB = 1.406MB.
I always thought there were things about IBM that just didn't add up.
(Sorry, couldn't resist it.)
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Room Internet Cafe
Port Pirie
South Australia.
netcafe_at_pirie.mtx.net.au
Received on Fri Jan 22 1999 - 03:15:25 GMT