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Learning More About Your Computer 5–11
Understanding Computer Terms
drop-down menu
A list of options that drops down when you click a menu name on the
menu bar or click the down arrow on a dialog box.
DSL (digital subscriber line)
A telephone line that carries both voice and data signals, allowing you
to talk on the phone and surf the Internet at the same time. The data
part of the line, which is continuously connected to the Internet,
allows high-speed, high-capacity data transfer. Your local telephone
company provides the necessary equipment-a DSL modem, a network
interface card, (NIC) and a splitter. See NIC.
DSL modem
A modem that connects to the Internet using digital subscriber line
service through an existing copper telephone line.
DVD-ROM (DVD read-only media)
A CD-sized disc that stores full-length movies, music videos, and
multimedia computer games with three-dimensional graphics. Both
single-sided and double-sided discs are available.
DVD-ROM drive
A drive that reads DVDs. Backward-compatible with CD technology,
it also reads old music CDs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs.
E
e-mail (electronic mail)
Messages sent over the Internet.
encrypt
To translate data into a secret code. You must have access to a secret
key or password to read an encrypted file. See secure Web site<.
Explorer
See Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer.
F
fax modem
A modem that allows your computer to transmit and receive faxes. It
can transmit documents to fax machines and other computers with fax
modems. It can broadcast a fax to several sites at once.