Subj : Re: Off Topic (was: MS XCOPY v 4DOS internal COPY) To : Outsider From : Steve Date : Sun Feb 10 2002 07:14 pm From: Steve@f3.n342.z1.cereal.mv.com (Steve) Subject: Re: Off Topic (was: MS XCOPY v 4DOS internal COPY) From: "E. S. (Steve) Fabian" Outsider wrote: > > R.A.G. Seely wrote: > > > > Outsider wrote in > > news:3C663413.F63E53C5@yahoo.com: > > > > > Probably the most common error is 'higher' instead of 'newer', ie. > > > MSDOS 5.0 or "higher", Windows 95 or "higher". One version cannot > > > be _higher_ than another, neither physically nor euphorically . > > > > Well - 6.0 is "higher" than 5.0, in a reasonably understood numerical > > sense, but it certainly isn't "newer"! (Do you suppose numbers were > > created, one per day, or something?) So I don't think your argument is > > entirely sound here. But I think "greater" might be better. > > I must disagree. The number is higher, but the version is not. Higher or > greater version numbers indicate a newer version, that is their purpose. > Therefore, "newer" is the correct term, or, "newer" or "later" version. > It's like confusing numbers with the numerals that represent them. > > > One disadvantage of "newer" is very common - people start to equate greater > > version numbers with newer versions of the software to such an extent that > > they do this "across" different products. Hence the nonsense like "you've > > got to use a version 4 or greater browser to view my site" - when not all > > browsers use the same numbering system. (Eg, Opera was driven to some > > artificial number version increases just because there was a perception > > that its lower version numbers were an indication of supporting fewer > > features.) > > That is another problem, and one which is not even explainable by > _legimate_ misunderstanding, IMO. > > -- > Outsider My understanding of English is that GREATER has two meanings - one meaning is used e.g. in Alexander the Great, the other for something with a measurable quantity. Since versions in software or hardware are neither size differences, nor marks of excellence, I think "greater" is an abuse of English. "later" or "newer" are much more appropriate. Or for certain software, which does not work under MS-DOS 7 or later, its "earlier". I wrote some such software - it crashes a win98 console session, but works perfectly under DOS 3.3 .. 6.22 (whether or not Windows is running). I must agree with both paragraphs from Outsider. -- E. S. "Steve" Fabian ESFabian@BellAtlantic.net POB 1540, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 Telephone: 856-354-1752 EMPIRE Consultants, Inc. Director, Software Development ------------------------------------------------------------------- -- |Fidonet: Steve 1:342/3 | | Origin: The Cereal Port BBS (603)899-3335 199.125.78.133 (1:132/152) --- # Origin: (1:132/152.4) * Origin: Baddog BBS (1:218/903) .