Microsoft's 32GB Surface RT has 16GB of free storage
The rest? Tools, apps, OS, and the definition of "gigabyte"
If you've saved up $499 for a 32GB Microsoft Surface RT, you might want to save a bit more for a capacious microSD memory card, or at least break out one of your external USB drives: according to Microsoft, half of that 32GB will be unavailable for your files.
Microsoft has published a support note that details how 16GB is all that's available for your "apps, documents, music, videos, and photos."
The note also explains that 32GB is actually 29GB – it all depends on your meaning of gigabyte:
The advertised local disk size is shown using the decimal system, while Windows displays the disk size using the binary system. As a result, 1 GB (in decimal) appears as about 0.93 GB (in binary). The storage capacity is the same, it's just shown differently depending on the how you measure a GB (decimal or binary).
That binary v decimal confusion is the reason that over a decade ago the term "gibibyte" was introduced to define in binary terms what we elders used to call a gigabyte – 10243 bytes – and leave the term "gigabyte" to the marketing folks, who use decimal terminology to define a gigabyte as 109 bytes.
Unfortunately, however, since Windows reports gigabytes in binary and Microsoft's ads use the decimal system, confusion still reigns. But gibi or giga, Microsoft notes that quite a bit of the Surface RT's storage space is already spoken for:
You say gigabyte, and I say gibibyte – either, either, neither, neither, let's call the whole thing off
Luckily, unlike tablets from a certain Cupertinian manufacturer, Microsoft makes it easy for you to add more storage space by slipping a microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC memory card of capacities up to 64GB into the Surface RT, or to connect a flash drive or hard drive through the Surface's standard USB port. Oh, and then there's always Microsoft's SkyDrive, of course.
Unfortunately, when talking about those SD cards, Microsoft doesn't make it clear whether they mean 64 gigabytes or 64 gibibytes – although we can only assume the former. After all, the bigger the number, the happier the marketeer. ®
COMMENTS
Youch...
Then again, did anyone seriously expect Microsoft to not be bloaty?
Looks like they didn't spend much time trimming things down, and simply recompiled Windows 8 for the tablet architecture. There's probably still complete support for the ISA, AGP, PCI and USB3 in there!
Other reservations?
Will Microsoft have any other reservations in their tablets?
* Reserving half the CPU for DRM, Genuine Advantage, and virus scans
* Reserving half the display for ads
* Reserving half the network bandwidth for updates
I know I have MY reservations....
Re: Spectacularly Refined Chap
IEEE Std 1541-2002 is relevant here given the whole standard is on the 10^9/2^30 issue. Paragraph 4.1 is cut and dry:
The SI prefixes shall not be used to denote multiplication by powers of two.
I see you've already been thumbed down. I'm not surprised. After all, of course some anonymous nobody commenting on a discussion forum knows better than a recognized international committee of experts.
Re: "Microsoft makes it easy for you to add more storage space"
woah there nelly. Windows RT cant see videos on an SD card? Im stunned.
Re: Meaningless
Exactly,
Kilo = 10^3
Mega = 10^6
Giga = 10^9
The fact that it's bytes and not grammes or metres is irrelevant or you actually think that a Kilometre is 1,024 metres?
