File size difference between PC and Mac

I need help understanding file sizes and the difference between files on a PC versus files on a Mac. I've been using a flash drive to remove files from my PC and put them on my Mac. Is there a reason why the files I move increase in size once they get on the Mac?

For example, I moved a folder with a bunch of songs from a single performing group. On my PC the file size is 1.6G, on my Mac the same file is 1.72G. This same idea happens with every folder I've checked so far.

Any ideas?

Leiyah said:

I need help understanding file sizes and the difference between files on a PC versus files on a Mac. I've been using a flash drive to remove files from my PC and put them on my Mac. Is there a reason why the files I move increase in size once they get on the Mac?

For example, I moved a folder with a bunch of songs from a single performing group. On my PC the file size is 1.6G, on my Mac the same file is 1.72G. This same idea happens with every folder I've checked so far.

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

This is because Microsoft and Apple define a gigabyte differently. Microsoft defines 1GB as 1024 MB. Apple, on the other hand, defines 1GB as 1000 MB. HDD manufacturers such as Western Digital, Seagate, etc use the same measurement as Apple.

Here's some more information for you...

Gigabyte (Wikipedia)

dmccloud said:

This is because Microsoft and Apple define a gigabyte differently. Microsoft defines 1GB as 1024 MB. Apple, on the other hand, defines 1GB as 1000 MB. HDD manufacturers such as Western Digital, Seagate, etc use the same measurement as Apple.

Here's some more information for you...

Gigabyte (Wikipedia)

Click to expand...

Nice work and thanks for the link, as i did not know this. Learn something everyday in this forum.

Thanks dmccloud

Also learned something new today sort of, and here I was thinking a Gigbyte was always 1024 MB.

CrimsonRequiem said:

Also learned something new today sort of, and here I was thinking a Gigbyte was always 1024 MB.

Click to expand...

Well it is 1024 MB. The problem is that hard drive manufacturers decided to re-define a GB using the decimal system of base-10 so their drives look like they are bigger than what they really are. In reality… computers don't operate using the decimal system. It's base-2 with 8 bits/byte. Starting with Snow Leopard, Apple decided to make OS X report file sizes the way hard drive manufacturers report capacity for liability reasons. Personally I think it just makes things more confusing. And I imagine OS X is actually making things harder on itself by re-calculating the reported file size to a formula that is not standard to how they really operate. The better way would to just make the hard drive manufacturers to stop lying about their capacities, but that'll never happen.

Actually, the reason Apple switched to the way the hard drive manufacturers calculated it was to EASE consumer confusion (as in the 1,000,000,000th "I bought a 500GB hard drive, why does in only report 488.2GB??" question).

This only works, of course, if everyone does it.

There has also been a movement afoot (not from marketers) to REDEFINE the base2 and base10 terms, thus making a GIGABYTE actually the size Apple and the HD people say, and GIBIBYTE the formerly "correct" 1024-bit definition.

chas_m said:

Actually, the reason Apple switched to the way the hard drive manufacturers calculated it was to EASE consumer confusion (as in the 1,000,000,000th "I bought a 500GB hard drive, why does in only report 488.2GB??" question).

Click to expand...

Consumer confusion leads to class action lawsuits. I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened yet. I recall when monitor manufacturers were lying about their sizes by including the plastic bezel as part of the screen dimensions. I recall seeing monitors advertised as being "19 inches" but the actual screen was about 14 inches, or something along those lines. I think it was the FTC who put a stop to that nonsense.

There has also been a movement afoot (not from marketers) to REDEFINE the base2 and base10 terms, thus making a GIGABYTE actually the size Apple and the HD people say, and GIBIBYTE the formerly "correct" 1024-bit definition.

Click to expand...

Yup. So far, it hasn't really taken off, and it never will without regulators stepping in.

Thanks for the reply. I learned something new!

This has always annoyed me and I've often wondered if there was a script or program that could get the Mac to calculate file sizes properly -- e.g., Base-2.

ETA: Answered my own question.

Shikarnov said:

This has always annoyed me and I've often wondered if there was a script or program that could get the Mac to calculate file sizes properly -- e.g., Base-2.

ETA: Answered my own question.

Click to expand...

I could kiss you.

Well maybe not you personally, but maybe your mother or sister.

^ My mother's going through a divorce right now, so she'd probably appreciate the attention. Feel free to send a pic if you want me to hook you up. lol