How much memory does the D2 Really have?

[Tac21]

as well all (should) know, players aren't really the gbs or megs that they advertise to be.

that being said, I'm sure the higher it gets, the more memory they chop. I know the ipod nano (4gb) is like 3.7gb or something. so how much exactlly is choped off the d2?

what are we left with for both the 2gb and 4gb models?

[wader]

It has about 3.7GB reported by the system.

This is typical: manufacturers of storage still get away with reporting GB as 1000MB, not 1024MB. That's sort of a metric conversion instead of a true storage calculation, IMHO. I believe that this is partly done because the metrics-style conversions are easier for consumers to manage.

Background:

In traditional computer storage terms,

1 Byte = 8 bits
1KB = 2^10 Bytes = 1024B
1MB = 2^20 Bytes = 1024*1024B (1024KB)
1GB = 2^30 Bytes = 1024*1024*1024B (1024MB)
etc.

However, it's been considered for some time that "Gigabyte" for computer memory/storage should really be called Gibibyte when referencing the binary - or, base 2 - grounding for typical storage that is used above.

This is because the term "Gigabyte" literally means "1,000,000,000 Bytes" = "1000x1000x1000 Bytes" (contrast that with the base 2 calculation of 1024*1024*1024 Bytes, above).

"Gibibyte" would be the binary (i.e., base 2 - from the notion of a bit being either 0 or 1 in value) version, giving you "1,073,741,824 Bytes".

So,

Reported by manufacturers, using convenient "1000" values in the conversions:

(4,000,000,000 advertised Bytes) * (1KB / 1000 Bytes) * (1MB / 1000 KB) * (1GB / 1000 MB) = 4.00GB .

Actual, reported by relatively few (at least, from what I've seen) storage manufacturers, using closer-to-real-world "1024" values in the conversions:

(4,000,000,000 advertised Bytes) * (1KB / 1024 Bytes) * (1MB / 1024 KB) * (1GB / 1024 MB) = 3.73GB .

Then, take away overhead of partitioning and file system . . . which gives us the 3.7GB usable space seen by the D2 and your computer.

- wader

[W33nie]

the ipod Video is supposed to have 30, but it has 27

[wader]

Originally Posted by W33nie

the ipod Video is supposed to have 30, but it has 27

Well, plug this into the equation at the end of my prior post, and we shouldn't be surprised:

(30,000,000,000 advertised Bytes) * (1KB / 1024 Bytes) * (1MB / 1024 KB) * (1GB / 1024 MB) = 27.94GB.

With overhead for partitioning and file system, reality will be slightly less than that number for both the iPod OS and the user's own files.

- wader

[Blackroom]

I think that the memory and harddrive manufacters also wants to change the numbers to the 1024 multiple. But I also see their problem, who wants to be first? The customers wants to have the bíggest drives for less money. If for example seagate starts with the "new" convention, the none educated customers will choose another drive with what they think more space for the same amount of money. Therefor I think we will continue to have this number mess for a long time. But it is not a problem in the end as long as you know what is what yourself.

[sanguine]

The problem is, that the manufacturers aren't lying to us customers, because a 4Gigabyte D2 has 4Gigabyte, but only 3,7 Gibibyte.
But hardly anyone uses the terms kibi, mebi, gibi instead of kilo,mega,giga.

[Kodai]

Ok, this is all well and good, but how much memory is available when the unit comes out of the box? 3.7 GB less the operating system = ?

[tobbis]

The avalible space is around 3.7 gb.