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Toshiba Portege S100 User Manual

Page 206

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Glossary-10

User’s Manual

Glossary

mode: A method of operation, for example, the boot mode, standby 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.

output: The results of a computer operation. Output commonly indicates

data.

1) printed on paper, 2) displayed at a terminal, 3) sent through the

serial port of internal modem, or 4) stored on some magnetic media.