A p p e n d i c e s
128
Operating System
A group of control programs that convert
application commands,including driver pro-
grams,into the exact form required by a specif-
ic brand and model of microprocessor in order
to produce the desired results from that partic-
ular equipment.
Parallel Port
A connection to another device through which
data is transferred as a block of bits simultane-
ously with a wire for each bit in the block and
with other wires only for control of the device
not for transfer of data.
Partition
A block of space on a hard disk which is set
aside and made to appear to the operating sys-
tem as if it were a separate disk and is addressed
by the operating system accordingly.
PCMCIA
PCMCIA is a trademark of the Personal
Computer Memory Card International
Association. The Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association is an organiza-
tion that sets standards for add-in cards for
personal computers.
Peripheral Device
A piece of equipment which performs a specific
function associated with but not integral to
a computer. Examples: a printer, a modem,
a CD-ROM.
PIO
Parallel Input/Output.
Pitch (keyboard)
The distance between the centers of the letter
keys of keyboard.
Pixel
The smallest element of a display, a dot of color
on the display screen. The more pixels per area
the clearer the image will appear.
POST
Power On Self Test.A program which is part o f
the BIOS which checks the configuration and
operating condition of the hardware whenever
power is applied to your notebook.Status and
error messages may be displayed before the
operating system is loaded. If failures so serious
that operation can not continue are detected
the operating system will not be loaded.
Program
An integrated set of coded commands to a
computer telling the hardware what to do and
how and when to do it.
PS/2
An IBM series of pers onal com p uters wh i ch
e s t a bl i s h ed a nu m ber of s t a n d a rds for con n ecti n g
ex ternal devi ces su ch as keyboa rds and mon i tors .
RAM
Random Access Memory. A hardware compo-
nent of a computer that holds binary informa-
tion (both program and data) as long as it has
the proper power applied to it.
RAM Module
A printed circuit card with memory and associ-
ated circuitry which allows the user to add
additional memory to a computer without
special tools.
Summary of Contents for 420D
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