Filter
Top Products
ISP — Internet service provider — A company that allows you to access its host server to connect directly to the Internet. The ISP gives you a software
package, user name, and access phone numbers for a monthly fee. If your computer has a modem, you can connect to the Internet, access websites, and
send and receive e-mail.
K
Kb — kilobit — A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes. A measurement of the capacity of memory integrated circuits.
KB — kilobyte — A unit of data that equals 1024 bytes but is often referred to as 1,000 bytes.
kg — kilogram — A unit measuring mass that equals 1,000 grams.
kHz — kilohertz — A measurement of frequency that equals 1,000 Hz.
L
LAN — local area network — A computer network covering a small area. A LAN usually is confined to a building or a few nearby buildings. A LAN can be
connected to another LAN over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves to form a wide area network (WAN).
LED — light-emitting diode — An electronic component that emits light to indicate the status of the computer.
Local bus — A data bus that provides a fast throughput for devices to the microprocessor.
LPT — Line print terminal — The designation for a parallel connection to a printer or other parallel device. Most computers support one or two parallel
connectors: LPT1 and LPT2.
M
Mb — megabit — A measurement of memory chip capacity that equals 1024 KB.
Mbps — megabits per second — One million bits per second. This measurement is typically used for transmission speeds for networks and modems.
MB — megabyte — A measurement of data storage that equals 1,048,576 bytes. 1 MB equals 1024 KB. When used to refer to hard drive storage, the term is
often rounded to mean 1,000,000 bytes.
MB/sec — megabytes per second — One million bytes per second. This measurement is typically used for data transfer ratings.
Memory — A temporary data storage area inside your computer. Because the data in memory is not permanent, Dell recommends that you frequently save
your files while you are working on them, and always save your files before you shut down the computer. Your computer can contain several different forms of
memory, such as RAM, ROM, and video memory. Frequently, the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM.
Memory address — A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM.
Memory mapping — The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start-up. Devices and software can then identify
information that the microprocessor can access.
MHz — megahertz — A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second. The speeds for computer microprocessors, buses, and interfaces are
typically measured in MHz.
Microprocessor — A computer chip that interprets and executes program instructions. Sometimes the microprocessor is referred to as the processor or the
CPU (central processing unit).
mm — millimeter — A unit of length that equals one thousandth of a meter or 1/25 inch.
Modem — A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines. Three types of modems include: external, PC
Card, and internal. You typically use your modem to connect to the Internet and exchange e-mail.
Monitor — The high-resolution TV-like device that displays your computer's output.
Mouse — A pointing device that controls the movement of the cursor on your screen. Typically you roll the mouse along a hard, flat surface to move the pointer
or cursor on your screen.
ms — millisecond — A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second. Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms.
N
Network adapter — A chip that provides network capabilities. A computer may include a network adapter on its system board or it may contain a PC Card with
an adapter on it. A network adapter is also referred to as a NIC (network interface controller).
Notification area — The section of the Windows taskbar that contains icons for providing quick access to programs and computer functions, such as the clock,
volume control, and print status. Also referred to as system tray.
ns — nanosecond — A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second.
NVRAM — nonvolatile random access memory — A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source. NVRAM