beautypg.com

Toshiba Satellite Pro A120 (PSAC1) User Manual

Page 197

background image

User’s Manual

Glossary-10

Glossary

megahertz: A unit of wave frequency that equals 1 million cycles per

second. See also hertz.

menu: A software interface that displays a list of options on the screen.

Also called a screen.

microprocessor: A hardware component contained in a single integrated

circuit that carries out instructions. Also called the central

processing unit (CPU), one of the main parts of the computer.

mode: A method of operation, for example, the boot mode, Sleep Mode or

the Hibernation Mode.

modem: Derived from modulator/demodulator, a device that converts

(modulates) digital data for transmission over telephone lines and

then converts modulated data (demodulates) to digital format

where received.

monitor: A device that uses rows and columns of pixels to display

alphanumeric characters or graphic images. See also CRT.

motherboard: A name sometimes used to refer to the main printed circuit

board in processing equipment. It usually contains integrated

circuits that perform the processor’s basic functions and provides

connectors for adding other boards that perform special functions.

Sometimes called a main board.

MP3: An audio compression standard that enables high-quality

transmission and real-time playback of sound files.

N

non-system disk: A formatted floppy disk you can use to store programs

and data but you cannot use to start the computer. See system

disk.

nonvolatile memory: Memory, usually read-only (ROM), that is capable

of permanently storing information. Turning the computer’s power

off does not alter data stored in nonvolatile memory.

numeric keypad overlay: A feature that allows you to use certain keys on

the keyboard to perform numeric entry, or to control cursor and

page movement.

O

OCR: Optical Character Recognition (reader). A technique or device that

uses laser or visible light to identify characters and input them into

a storage device.

online state: A functional state of a peripheral device when it is ready to

receive or transmit data.

operating system: A group of programs that controls the basic operation

of a computer. Operating system functions include interpreting

programs, creating data files, and controlling the transmission and

receipt (input/output) of data to and from memory and peripheral

devices.