Round numbers are not "barriers", they are just round numbers. The term "barrier" should only be used when there is something special about the number that creates special engineering challenges to overcome.
Example: the sound barrier. The aerodynamics of a moving airplane are completely different when traveling faster than the speed of sound, than when traveling slower, so it was a real barrier that required engineering effort to overcome.
Another barrier had to do with fabricating electronic component
But the nice round numbers lead to marketing false alarms, so I think it's noteworthy when hype gives way to reality.
This also happens to be an area that lends itself to round numbers right now, since 10 terabytes is about the level where Oracle has totally run out of gas, and 100 terabytes used to be the hard limit on Netezza configurations.
Pet peeve: misuse of "barrier" (Score:2)
Example: the sound barrier. The aerodynamics of a moving airplane are completely different when traveling faster than the speed of sound, than when traveling slower, so it was a real barrier that required engineering effort to overcome.
Another barrier had to do with fabricating electronic component
Re:Pet peeve: misuse of "barrier" (Score:2)
You have a point.
But the nice round numbers lead to marketing false alarms, so I think it's noteworthy when hype gives way to reality.
This also happens to be an area that lends itself to round numbers right now, since 10 terabytes is about the level where Oracle has totally run out of gas, and 100 terabytes used to be the hard limit on Netezza configurations.
CAM