The Slippery Soapbox

by **Fogdude** » Oct Fri 27, 2017 7:29 pm

One of the software sites I get some software from is currently arguing about this terminology. Some claim DisK means magnetic media, while DisC, means analog media, like LPs, 45rpm records, etc, but they also now claim it extends to music CDs, etc. To me, that ruins their argument, because it's no longer about magnetic vs old fashioned mechanical or digital vs analog.

As far as I'm concerned, the older DisK terminology is outdated & obsolete & DisC should be the generic form, though holdovers who want to persist with DisK can do so, if they like.

What do you think? (If you just don't care, you can refrain from comment. We'll take your lack of response as an 'I Don't Care' vote.)

by **ctaulbee** » Oct Fri 27, 2017 9:01 pm

I'm of the opinion it's just does not matter as the terms are interchangeable.

Still with that said, I myself, tend to lean toward Disc as the most correct and accepted term but I'm fairly sure there is no real rule on it.

I still cringe when Hard-disk is spelled Hard-disc as in my world that is just wrong no matter what lol.

For everything else Disc is my preferred spelling.

by **VincentLupo** » Oct Fri 27, 2017 9:05 pm

I don't think it really matters that much. I'm stuck in my ways so if I ever refer to a Hard Drive or a Floppy I would use disk. CD's, DVD's and Blu-ray would be disc. I've never heard of an LP or 45 referred to as a disc or disk so I would not do that either. When in doubt I would just make it up as I go.

by **Wrench** » Oct Fri 27, 2017 10:14 pm

I agree with Curt and Vince. I would never call a hard drive a disc or disk, it's a drive.

by **Jazzy** » Oct Fri 27, 2017 11:02 pm

in french it's "disque" either way....

So... I don't give a f.... :embarrassed:

by **topmeasure** » Oct Fri 27, 2017 11:22 pm

According to Apple:
Disc

A disc refers to optical media, such as an audio CD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, or DVD-Video disc. Some discs are read-only (ROM), others allow you to burn content (write files) to the disc once (such as a CD-R or DVD-R, unless you do a multisession burn), and some can be erased and rewritten over many times (such as CD-RW, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM discs).
All discs are removable, meaning when you unmount or eject the disc from your desktop or Finder, it physically comes out of your computer.

Disk

A disk refers to magnetic media, such as a floppy disk, the disk in your computer's hard drive, an external hard drive. Disks are always rewritable unless intentionally locked or write-protected. You can easily partition a disk into several smaller volumes, too.
Disks are usually sealed inside a metal or plastic casing (often, a disk and its enclosing mechanism are collectively known as a "hard drive").

by **VincentLupo** » Oct Sat 28, 2017 3:29 am

Yep...I agree with Apple this time.

by **stampe** » Oct Sat 28, 2017 5:52 am

diskette: a small, flat, square object made of plastic, used in the past to store information electronically

any variation of a floppy (3.5 / 5,25 & 8 inch) is a disK. i don't think it should be used for anything else.

by **chouette** » Oct Mon 30, 2017 12:28 am

Jazzy wrote:...in french it's "disque" either way....

So... I don't give a f....

I'm on Jazzy's team, lol

by **chefjoe** » Oct Tue 31, 2017 2:03 pm

Generally speaking, the US spelling is disk and the British spelling is disc, although there is much overlap and variation between the two. In particular, the spelling for senses relating to computers is nearly always disk, as in floppy disk, disk drive, etc., but disc is the norm for compact disc, disc brakes, and disc camera.

as for myself, I'm more in line with, This is pointless, hehe!