Mon, 15 Jan 2007, by [EMAIL PROTECTED]: > On Monday 15 January 2007 17:50, John E. Perry wrote: > > Joachim Schrod wrote: > > > Hans Witvliet wrote: > > >> And btw, "B" is for bytes (octets) and "b" for bits > > >> The term "Byte" comes from by-eight. > > > > > > Do your have any reference for that? > > > > > > A byte is the basic addressing unit of memory, that's all. > > > > Well, my instructors in the early '70's told me that a byte was > > analogous to "bite" -- not the smallest "bit" accessible, but smaller > > than the full-size "word" of most architectures of the time. And some > > architectures do allow you direct access to a bit.
Why only some? Aren't shift- and logical operations part of all CPU architectures? > > > > bit: smallest piece > > bite or byte: manageable chunk to chew on > > steak or word: full-size portion > > > > (the culinary examples are my own) > > > > -- > > > > John Perry > > bit - individual binary number 1 or 0 Nybble - half a byte. > byte - 8 bits > word - depends on the processor 16, 32 or 64 bits > > Mike Theo -- Theo v. Werkhoven Registered Linux user# 99872 http://counter.li.org ICBM 52 13 26N , 4 29 47E. + ICQ: 277217131 SUSE 9.2 + Jabber: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kernel 2.6.8 + See headers for PGP/GPG info. Claimer: any email I receive will become my property. Disclaimers do not apply. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
