Compaq Presario Internet PC - Manual (Page 116)

G LOSSARY 2 M Y P RESARIO —G ETTING S TARTED AND B EYOND
B
back up To copy files in case the original
files are lost or damaged. Back-up copies
can be stored on the hard disk, a diskette,
Zip disk, or CD-R disc. Regular backups
of all data files on removable storage
media are recommended because hard
drives occasionally crash.
bit The smallest possible piece of
computer information—a single digit
(either a 1 or a 0). See byte.
bitmap Defines a display space and the
color of each pixel or bit in the display
space. A GIF and a JPEG are examples of
graphic image file types that contain
bitmaps.
boot To start or restart the computer.
During the start-up process, information
necessary for the computer to operate is
loaded into memory. See main memory.
browser Software that searches for,
displays, and downloads text, graphics,
sound, and video from the Internet.
Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator are two popular browsers.
buffer A temporary storage area in
memory. It acts as a holding area where
data with different transfer rates can be
collected, then sent as a steady stream to
the device that processes data for
permanent storage. In CD recorders, the
buffer helps to prevent buffer underruns.
buffer underrun The inability of your
computer to keep up the steady stream of
data required for CD recording. The CD
recorder has an internal memory buffer to
protect against interruptions and
slowdowns; however, if the interruption is
so long that the buffer is completely
emptied, a buffer underrun occurs, writing
stops, and the CD is probably ruined.
bug A mistake in the design of computer
software. Because of their complexity,
designs may have minor bugs. As soon as
the manufacturer becomes aware of the
problem, modifications are made to correct
it. These modifications, called fixes or
patches, can be downloaded from the
manufacturer’s Web site.
bulletin board An electronic notice board
on the Internet where people can post
notices for others with similar interests.
Professional organizations and clubs often
have bulletin boards for members to share
information and opinions.
byte Eight bits of data strung together to
make a message that the computer can
interpret. Most information is organized
into bytes, the standard unit of data. One
byte of data is required to represent a
single character that you can see on the
screen (a letter, number, punctuation mark,
or other symbol). For example, the byte
01001000 represents the capital letter H.
See bit.