People get used to certain ways. Personally, I have strong 'metric background', but I got used to miles/pounds so backward conversion causes me some inconvenience, though I still dislike 5'7"-like sizes.
Customers should feel some benefits, even imaginative, to switch eagerly. I remember as 5 years ago when stock market went from british to metrics it was supported/adopted by retail customers because it promised real benefits.

>Aye but: you want some blinds; you measure your window, using the other side of the tape (with the cm/mm); you record how many units; you go to the store and compare your number with the dimensions (in cm/mm) on the blinds in stock; you pick the set closest to your numbers. It couldn't be simpler. Doesn't matter if it's in Alpha-Centuri Prime Yagblarks, so long as it's simple, and the divisions are small enough.
>
>>At some point metric system will get complete control, but not sooner than US customers stop to be the biggest spenders so other world rushes catering to them. I mean it's not a question of traditions only.
>>
>>>And haven't there been problems with the Shuttle, some contractors producing metric componenets and some (idiot) contractors doing it in feet and inches, for Godssakes? It makes me cringe when I see film/TV of Americans measuring, say a length of wood, and calling out "Yea, that's 3 feet 6 and 5/16 inches" or some such, when they could just read off "x point y centimeters", or "x-ty-y mm". What does it matter whether or not you're used to the units - it's just marks on a tape, to be read/recorded.
>>>
>>>>This reminds me of the Mars Orbiter fubar, where imperial measurements were used when metric units were expected... in the software that computed the orbit of the craft. Didnt work out that well.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>but are some of the imperial measurements different in the US versus britain, am thinking of weights. just go metric, easier for all concerned, was up north over the weekend and speeds are in miles, my car only has km, so a few ruched calculations had to be done when nearing speed cameras :)
>>>>>
>>>>>Yes they are. All to do with the separation of the colonies and lack of standardisation and stuff, I expect. Bit short-sighted of teh Irish govt not having km and miles on the speedos, like in GB, eps. as likely drive in NI or take ferry to England. Alright, all the roads are new over there, so can put up infrastructure new, but would be too dear to change now here.
>>>>>
>>>>>Same happens when you drive from Canada into the USA (also comparing petrol prices when it goes from C$ per litre, to US$ per gallon!)
>>>>>
>>>>>Terry