At the moment, the handbook states this: "First, tell parted that the size unit we work with is megabytes (actually mebibytes, abbreviated as MiB which is the "standard" notation, but we will use MB in the text throughout as it is much more common):" And, indeed, throughout the text "MB" is used to refer to MiB. This is wrong, and only serves to perpetuate the incorrect and confusing but prevalent Windows/JEDEC notation. Instead, the handbook should be consistent and use the correct and accepted terminology. If increments of 1024 are meant, then use the binary prefix KiB/MiB/GiB/TiB notation. If increments of 1000 are meant (seemingly they are not throughout the handbook, so this is a theoretical case), the SI prefixes kB/MB/GB/TB should be used. A link to the Wikipedia article on the issue would be useful to include as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_prefix
it's fine as-is. MB/GB etc. are used as everyone expects--as stated, this is the common usage, so the handbook should not confuse the reader by using uncommon terms. there's no need to further sidetrack the handbook with external wiki articles. in the future, please use the "discussion" tab for suggestions on the handbook wiki page itself.
How is it "common usage"? How does "everyone expect" that? Look at what is used where: 1) On the majority of Linux applications, including desktop environments like Plasma 5, and the partitioning software that the handbook is about (!), the binary prefixes are used. 2) On OS X, the SI prefixes are used. That means former OS X users expect 1 MB = 1000000 B. Similarly, SI prefixes are used by disk manufacturers. 3) The JEDEC style is only used on Windows. It is the only source of confusion: if JEDEC style was to go extinct, the exact file and partition sizes would be obvious at a glance. Are Windows users the target audience for the Gentoo handbook? I don't think so. Should Gentoo users understand correct terminology, given that most Linux software, including partitioning software, uses it? I think so. People who are new to Gentoo have a lot to learn, and proper terminology is simply one more thing that they need to learn. If they don't learn it then, they will be even more confused in the future when they install their DE and see binary prefixes used everywhere. At the moment the handbook simply seeds more confusion, which is the exact opposite of what documentation should do. Besides, I don't think anyone is *ever* confused by binary prefixes. Even non-tech people coming from Windows understand binary prefixes, because they will be oblivious to the significance of and simply ignore the "i" in the prefix. It's only ever confusing when SI and JEDEC notations are used.
