Unhelpful error message when hard drive is barely too small

[Jeremy Bícha]

I used Ubuntu 16.10's VirtualBox to attempt to install Ubuntu 16.10 today. VirtualBox suggested an 8 GB virtual hard drive.

When I attempted to install, I got this unhelpful error message:
"You need at least 8.6 GB disk space to install Ubuntu.
This computer has only 8.6 GB."

Screenshot attached.

And I think "If I need at least 8.6 GB but have 8.6 GB, what's the problem here?"

The numbers need to be more precise in this case or the message needs to be rewritten.

I filed bug 1614810 requesting that VirtualBox increase its recommended virtual hard drive size for Ubuntu.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.10
Package: ubiquity 16.10.7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-34.53-generic 4.4.15
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-34-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.3-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
CasperVersion: 1.376
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Thu Aug 18 22:03:53 2016
InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz.efi file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-gnome.seed boot=casper quiet splash ---
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu-GNOME 16.10 "Yakkety Yak" - Alpha amd64 (20160818)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Ian Chard (ian-chard)]

I ran into this today -- attached a partial screenshot.