Re: spelling of disc (disk) in /devfs

idalton
2001-02-01T18:28:52Z

On Wed, Jan 31, 2001 at 06:35:30PM -0600, List User wrote:
> If it's any consolation from (this American) I'm glad it's 'disc' (always
> thought that 'disk' was just for those marketing dweebs who couldn't spell
> right
> in the first place).

And in terms of casual usage, I've nearly always used 'disk' in
reference to media that can be mounted read-write, and 'disc' to media
that can only be mounted read-only.

More technically, 'disc' is a single media layer (usually a CD-ROM) and
'disk' is a removable media device with a protective casing.

Non-removable storage are generally refered to as 'drives'.

Yes, it's confusing.

-- Ferret

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan Chandler" <alan@chandlerfamily.org.uk>
> To: <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 18:19
> Subject: spelling of disc (disk) in /devfs
>
>
> > I accidentally built my 2.4.1 kernel with /devfs so had a interesting
> > few minutes looking round it to see what it was doing.
> >
> > The thing that struck me most was the spelling of disc with a 'c'. As
> > an Englishman this is the correct spelling for me most of the time,
> > but I have come to accept "as a technical term" disk (as in American)
> > is the right name for these devices.
> >
> > I now find myself confused with the new approach.