Originally posted by needcgispace
when a host says they don't meter the amount of bandwidth their clients use, it is implied that they won't meter the users to a point. if for some reason that the host's bandwidth usage triples in the next month, then they'll get suspicious.
okay, to clarify the unlimited-unmetered situation even further: unlimited means they will NEVER decided to limit the amount of bandwidth you can use or space you can occupy. unmetered means that they will not meter INDIVIDUAL accounts, but they will keep tabs on the ratio of the amount of bandwidth overall consumed monthly by the host to the number of members (including or excluding newcomers, which is up to the host's discretion), and compare that ratio to those of past months.
Bahhhh, let's head to the dictionary, shall we?
What do the terms mean?
limit
tr.v. lim·it·ed
1. To confine or restrict within a boundary or bounds.
2. To fix definitely; to specify.
pref. un-
Not; opposite of; contrary to
So put together, the definition of unlimited would be:
1. Not confined or restricted within a boundary or bounds.
2. To fix indefinitely; to not specify.
'Not specifiy' sounds like an accurate term! I don't know of any hosts who offer completely much of anything completely unrestricted, so it would seem the term is being misused. We go on...
meter
tr.v. me·tered
2. To supply in a measured or regulated amount:
metered the allotted gasoline to each vehicle.
pref. un-
Not; opposite of; contrary to
So put together, the definition of unmetered would be:
To supply in a not measured or not regulated amount.
Who here thinks hosts supply bandwidth in
either fashion?
You say:
...it is implied that they won't meter the users to a point.
Now, I'm not trying to say that I came up with these definitions, I looked up the words in dictionary. I cannot find any mention of this 'implication' that you state. No little asterisk saying, 'up to a certain point'. I think you made that part up, though if you found this in a dictionary, I'd be open to taking a look.
unmetered means that they will not meter INDIVIDUAL accounts, but they will keep tabs on the ratio of the amount of bandwidth overall consumed monthly by the host to the number of members (including or excluding newcomers, which is up to the host's discretion), and compare that ratio to those of past months.
Again, I find this to be *your* definition of the word, not *the* definition of the word. I'm not trying to be combative, mind you. I'm just pointing out that there is a meaning for the term, and from what I've seen, no host offers services according to that meaning. If a host wants to come up with their own 'new meaning' of an accepted term, all the power to them.
Source:
http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=metered
http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=limited
http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=un