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A Appendix
DVD is essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold video as well as audio and computer data. With
these capacities and access rates, DVD discs can provide you with dramatically-enhanced high-color,
full-motion videos, better graphics, sharper pictures, and Dolby
®
Digital Surround for a theater-like
experience. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a
single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and perhaps even
video game cartridges. DVD has widespread support from all major electronics companies, all major
computer hardware companies, and most major movie and music studios.
Device Driver
A device driver is a special set of instructions that allows the computer’s operating system to commu-
nicate with devices such as VGA, audio, Ethernet, printer, or modem.
Hardware
Hardware is a general term referring to the physical components of a computer system, including pe-
ripherals such as printers, modems, and pointing devices.
IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)
IDE devices integrate the drive control circuitry directly on the drive itself, eliminating the need for a
separate adapter card (in the case for SCSI devices). UltraDMA/66 or 100 IDE devices can achieve up
to 33MB/Sec transfer.
IEEE1394
Also known as iLINK (Sony) or FireWire (Apple). IEEE1394 is a high speed serial bus like SCSI but
has simple connections and hot-plugging capabilities like USB. The interface IEEE1394 has a band-
width of 400-1000 Mbits/sec and can handle up to 63 units on the same bus. It is very likely that
IEEE1394, together with USB, will replace Parallel, IDE, SCSI, and EIDE ports. IEEE1394 is also
used in high-end digital equipment and should be marked “DV” for Digital Video port.
Infrared Port (IrDA)
The infrared (IrDA) communication port allows convenient wireless data communication with infra-
red-equipped devices or computers. This allows easy wireless synchronization with PDAs or mobile
phones and even wireless printing to printers. If your office supports IrDA networking, you can have
wireless connection to a network anywhere provided there is a direct line of sight to an IrDA node.
Small offices can use IrDA technology to share a printer between several closely placed Notebook PCs
and even send files to each other without a network.
Kensington
®
Locks
Kensington
®
locks (or compatible) allow the Notebook PC to be secured usually using a metal cable
and lock that prevent the Notebook PC to be removed from a fixed object. Some security products may
also include a motion detector to sound an alarm when moved.