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G
LOSSARY
-8 P
RESARIO
N
OTEBOOK
B
EYOND
S
ETUP
G
UIDE
1800 S
ERIES
microprocessor A silicon chip inside
your computer that processes the
instructions and data from input devices
(such as the keyboard and mouse) and
communicates them to output devices
(such as the monitor, speakers,
and printer).
Microsoft Internet Explorer A Web
browser developed by the Microsoft
Corporation. See browser.
Microsoft Windows The most popular
computer operating system in the world. It
is characterised by the use of windows and
icons. Each running program and open file
has its own window. Instead of
memorising commands, you click icons to
communicate with the computer. Clicking
the minimise button shrinks a program to
an icon on the taskbar. Clicking the icon
redisplays the program as a window. You
can have several windows open at the
same time and toggle from one to another
by using Alt+Tab. (Press and hold down
the Alt key, press the Tab key, and then
release both keys. A palette with an icon
for each program is displayed. Click the
icon for the program you want.)
MIDI (musical instrument digital
interface) (pronounced middy). An
interface that allows the computer to
record sounds created by a synthesiser and
then manipulate the data to produce new
sounds, such as changing the key of a
composition. See interface.
See also digital.
MIDI connector A connector on the back
of the computer for plugging in a
synthesiser keyboard.
MIDI format A file format used to store
electronic music sounds. It can be
identified by the file extension .mid. A
sound card that supports MIDI files allows
the computer to generate the synthesised
musical sounds found in games,
CD-ROMs, and presentation packages.
minimize To shrink a running program
window into an icon on the Windows
taskbar. Click the icon to restore the
program window. See Microsoft Windows.
modem A device in the computer that
converts data from digital format to
analogue format so that it can be
transferred through a standard telephone
line to another computer. The modem in
the receiving computer converts the data
back to digital format. See digital.
mouse A device that you move across
the top of your desk (or a mousepad) to
move the pointer or cursor on the screen.
Click to select an item, double-click to
launch a program, and right-click to see a
shortcut menu.mouse pointer
The arrow on the screen that moves with
the mouse.