How To Display REAL File Sizes?

[VideoNoobz]

Hello. I work a lot with video, DVD's, etc. This work relies heavily upon the long-time, established standard when it comes to file sizes; that is, that noble of all numbers, 1024.

Sadly, it appears that some computer makers, hard drive manufacturers, and even some ISP's, no longer have respect for the decades-old standard of 1024, upon which the computer industry was built. Thus, to earn a higher profit, and to pretend to offer more than they really are, they have chosen to use 1000, instead of 1024, as their unit of measurement. It makes Internet speeds appear faster than they really are; it makes hard drives seem bigger than they really are; etc. To me, it is plain old greed and deception.

For someone involved with video, where accurate measurements are required, this modern usage of 1000 presents a problem.

Thus, I am looking for a program which will allow me to display REAL file sizes in the Finder -- which relies upon 1024k/Kb, 1024Kb/Mb, 1024Mb/Gb, etc. -- rather than the more modern approach of 1000 units/whatever.

I was hoping that a program like MacPilot, or a similar app, might possess this tweaking feature, but I have been unable to find one to date.

The only thing that I can do for now is to use a program like MediaInfo, which is a halfway point, because I actually want ALL of my files on my hard drives to display the file size based upon 1024, and NOT upon 1000.

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

[VideoNoobz]

I just wanted to let everyone know that someone on the MacOSXHints.com messageboard pointed me to a thread, and a program called "SwitchDiskSizeBase" which switches the Finder, Disk Utility, etc., back to base 2, so that file and folder sizes are displayed, based on 1024, and not on 1000.

If anyone is interested in downloading the program, you will find it here:

http://files.me.com/brkirch/72zto4

I am not the author of the program, so I make no guarantees concerning it. I am just passing along some useful information.

I just downloaded the program and will be trying it out soon. I hope that it doesn't do evil things to my system.

[Case]

It's imho one of the bad changes in Snow Leopard, http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2419
although it's actually an international standard for some years now: IEEE 1541

In an ideal world, you could set it just as you prefer, as it is basically just an OS setting. I haven't found the command line for it, though.

Edit: I just saw you found a utility for this already.
Edit 2: Your link is to a file with a different size than Build 3, which I think is the latest.

[VideoNoobz]

Thanks Case! The version I downloaded earlier is in fact a little older by about a month.

[VideoNoobz]

DRATS! I just tried using "switchDiskSizeBase Build 3" on a 27" 2.8 GHz Quad Core iMac running 10.6.2.

When I run the sudo command in the Terminal, I get the following error message:

"Cannot patch Foundation framework; either it is not a supported version or it is corrupted"

Does this mean that Apple is on to the developer's tricks and does not like it, or does he just need to update his app?

Thanks!

[VideoNoobz]

Well, I am still waiting to hear from the author of switchDiskSizeBase. He hasn't responded to my email, or to the comment that I left on his web page. Hopefully, he is in the process of updating his app so that it is compatible with the latest line of iMacs...hopefully!

[VideoNoobz]

Hello Again,

I just wanted to update everyone.

I just heard from the developer of switchDiskSizeBase. He informed me that he needed a copy of the "Foundation.framework" folder in order to determine where the problem lies. He believes that it should be an easy problem to fix. I just sent the framework to him.

I'll let everyone know the results.

[VideoNoobz]

Hi folks,

switchDiskSizeBase Build 4 is now available, and it enables late 2009 iMacs -- and I assume early 2010 iMacs -- to use base 2 (binary) instead of base 10 (decimal).

Below is the link to the download page:

http://web.me.com/brkirch/brkirchs_Software/switchDiskSizeBase/Entries/2010/3/1_switch...e_build_4.html

I have confirmed that it works on my 27" iMac.

[VideoNoobz]

Hi Guys...And Gals,

If you own one of the aforementioned iMacs which requires switchDiskSizeBase Build 4, I encourage you to visit the developer's page at the above URL and leave a thank-you comment on the page. Not only will it show our appreciation for his quick work, but it will encourage him to continue updating the app as new releases of Mac OSX are made.

Thanks!

Just another happy user of the app.