How fast is 8 Mbps?

 zh  <-- 萌萌哒！换去华语！

 This is part of the "7 common misconception about computing" week series. 

Let me ask you a question, how much time does it need to take to download 1 MB large file using 1 Mbps (Mb/s)? If you tell me 1 second, you are wrong.

Notice the capital B and non-capital b, they are both different unit of measurement. The capital B is representing Byte, which the non-capital b represent bit.

To be specified, 1 Byte equals to 8 bits. Therefore 1 bit is 1/8 of 1 Byte.

 1 Byte = 8 bits
 1 Kilobyte = 8 Kilobits
 1 Megabyte = 8 Megabits
 ...

So, the answer to the question is 8 seconds, because 1 Mbps equals to 1 Megabit per second. To download a Megabyte file you need 8 Megabits to download. So, in order to download 1 Megabyte file in 1 second, you need 1 MB/s since it means 1 Megabyte per second.

Confused? Just think like this :
When you see Byte, or capital B, you know it is a bigger value. When you see bit, or non-capital b, you know it would be smaller.

Many internet service providers like to show their internet package in Mb/s or Mbps instead of MB/s or MBps because it would make user confuse and think that the speed is fast, although it's not the case.

You can download 1 MB large file in 1 second with the 10 Mbps plan, ~0.4 second with the 20 Mbps plan and ~0.2 second with the 30 Mbps plan.

 Just Remember 
1 Byte = 8 Bits
Byte is larger unit, use capital B.
bit is smaller unit, use non-capital b.
8 Mbps = 1 MB/s