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Learning More About Your Computer 5–9
Understanding Computer Terms
dedicated line
A telephone line that is always connected to the modem (inside the
computer) to provide constant access to the Internet. A separate
telephone line is used for phone calls. See modem.
default
The option that the program automatically chooses for you when you
do not indicate a choice yourself. For example, when you print a
document, the Print dialog box asks which pages to print (the default
is All) and how many copies to print (the default is 1). You can
change the settings, and you can designate the new settings as the
default.
desktop
See Windows desktop.
desktop computer
A personal computer designed to be placed on a desk. It is not
portable as is a laptop or notebook computer.
dialog box
A small window that requests information from the user before a
command can be carried out digitally.
digital
A system that uses electronic signals to transfer data in the form of
bits. A bit is represented by a single digit. Computers use only two
digits-either a 0 or a 1-in various combinations. See bit and byte.
digital audio extraction
The process of copying CD-DA audio tracks digitally, from your
CD-Recorder or CD-ROM drive to a hard drive or to a recordable CD.
Not all CD-ROM drives support this, but most CD-Recorders do.
disc-at-once
A method of writing CDs in which one or more tracks are written in a
single operation, and the CD is closed without ever turning off the
writing laser. Contrast with track-at-once. Not all CD-Recorders
support disc-at-once.