How long does it take to transfer a gigabyte file? Sure we can do the math but why (considering the average person)? Maybe there should be a common core revolution in engineering :-)
I can't do the exact math for that without looking up up a bunch of stuff.
I don't how much I need to subtract for the multiple headers and other overhead, how fast the transfer rate gets to the maximum, how many packages get lost, what other factors of the congestion control algorithms might impact my transfer etc
I just divide by 10. How long will it take to download a 100MB file with a 100Mbps connection? Approximately 10 seconds. I know that the theoretical maximum is 8 seconds, but practical factors like flow control and all that more or less cancel out the 20% error.
You are missing my point: the raw bit rate of the network is not the rate of file transfers. There is a bunch of logic around the raw bits in the wire that make it mich more complicated than dividing by 8
Actually, the real point is that the average person doesn't need engineering precision which is my original point. Whether it's 60sec or 65sec to xfer a file doesn't matter to them. Engineers always like to argue precision to justify complexity and lose sight of the larger picture (eg. consumers/majority matter).
btw- how does expression it in bits v/s bytes help you with your desired calculations?
You brought up math. I never disputed that 100MB / 12.5MByte/s is slightly easier than 100MB / 100Mbit/s. I'm just saying that calculation, in both forms, gives a very inaccurate answer to how long a file transfer will take, which is what you brought up as the big reason.
An easier and better answer is what jdiez17 described: just divide by 10. I.e. 100Mbit/s link speed is approximate 10MB/s of data transfer.
