Whats the difference between...?

Question

Whats the difference between a Megabyte and a megabit?

Answer 1

A megabyte is a unit of information or computer storage equal to either 106 (1,000,000) bytes or 220 (1,048,576) bytes, depending on context. In rare cases, it is used to mean 1000×1024 (1,024,000) bytes. It is commonly abbreviated MB (not to be confused with Mb, which is used for the megabit). The term megabyte was coined in 1970.

The megabit is a unit of information storage, abbreviated Mbit or sometimes Mb.

1 megabit = 106 = 1,000,000 bits which is equal to 125,000 bytes or approximately 122 kilobytes.

The megabit is most commonly used when referring to data transfer rates in network speeds, e.g. a 100 Mbit/s Fast Ethernet connection. In this context, like elsewhere in telecommunications, it always equals 106 bits. Residential high speed internet is often measured in megabits.

A binary counterpart of the megabit, useful for measuring RAM and ROM chip capacity, is the mebibit.

Answer 2

A megabyte is by definition 1024 kilobytes.

However, computer manufacturers start listing the size of their drives in "megabites" rather then "megabytes". One letter difference. They defined a "megabite" as only 1000kb.
This let them list drives that 80 gig instead of 76.5 gig in size (for example). Looks better to have a whole number for the size. Plus an "80" look bigger then a "76.5".

But since computers themselves still use 1024, not 1000, the 80 megabite drive is still a 76.5 megabyte drive to the PC. That is why when you added your new 80g drive, Windows only reported it as 76.5g.

Answer 3

8 bits to a byte.

Oops sorry you asked about megabytes. Never mind me.

Answer 4

they are both different systems and have different memories

Answer 5

you know you have to be specipic about what you gonna ask