ADF. Automatic document feeder is a device that automatically feeds a certain number of pieces of paper into an input device; such as a copy machine, scanner or fax machine. The more pages it supports, the less time you have to spend feeding the machine large documents.
AGP.
Advanced Graphics Protocol is the latest type of video card adapter slot on Pentium II motherboards. It has a more direct bus path to the CPU, which is both closer (physically) and wider (64 bit minimum - 128 bit in some cases)Applications. A primary software program, which information (whether text or graphics) is created, formatted, or otherwise controlled within.
ASPI. Advanced SCSI programming interface handles communication between a SCSI host adapter and the device's driver software. SCSI technology lets a variety of devices share the same host adapter, and the ASPI Manager logically manages the information so it doesn't get mixed up in your computer.
Boolean search. A special type of search (or, in technical terms: "query") in which multiple words can be specifically included or excluded from the search. Common possibilities are: AND, OR, NOT and can often times allow you to search a wide variety of information.
Cache. This is a very fast type of RAM Memory. There are two types - internal & external. External cache is contained on the motherboard, while Internal cache is contained in the CPU. The Cache keeps recently accessed file locations, instructions and even some data readily accessible to your computer. This increases the speed of your software by 10 to 1,000% (depending of the type - amount - and how it is used by your system). Today, many systems come with 256K or 512K of secondary cache (External - on the motherboard) some of the faster and more expensive systems come with 1MB of cache on the motherboard.
DPI. Dots per inch on your monitor. (See Resolution for more information.)
DVD. "Digital Versatile Data" this will be the next-generation in CD-ROM technology. Currently there are two different standards which are being worked on as you read this (if they haven't been solved yet). There are single sided, single layered discs, which can hold up to 9.4GB of data... versus 650MB on a traditional CD-ROM. The Industry leaders are working on both multiple layers and double sided discs. The price will drop quickly as the popularity picks up.
EDO RAM - Extended data out RAM - An advanced type of readable/writable memory that can easily increase overall system performance up to 10% over regular standard DRAM. There are many differences in RAM, please refer to the RAM section under Components for more details.
EIDE - Enhanced integrated drive electronics is a type of interface that has become the ipso-facto standard for connected hard drives, tape drives, or CD ROM drives. This type of enhanced drive is inexpensive (compared to SCSI) and EIDE doubles or triples the data transfer speed of older drive interfaces. Plus, it allows the total number of drives a PC can house to four (without SCSI).
Emulation. This is the ability of one device to "fool" the computer into thinking it is a device of a different type. Most commonly used with lesser known brands of printers, to perform in the manner of other printers. For example, a Citizen printer may use an Epson LQ510 print driver, a Sharp Laser printer may use an HP III driver... one type of CD-ROM may use the drivers from a different manufacturer, Scanners may use the generic TWAIN driver.
Field. A part of a database, or cell in a spreadsheet. Each record is made up of many individual fields, such as First Name, Company Name, etc..
Forms. A special "component" a programmer designs to help end-users fill-in the blanks. It is designed to CONTROL input data.
Grayscale. Applies to images. Different than "black & white" in that an image using black dots of varying amounts in a grid pattern to create the illusion of shading. The more dots in the pattern, the better and more realistic an image appears.
Host adapter SCSI controllers are considered a "host" adapter, because it "hosts" and manages up to seven SCSI devices off the same controller. SCSI-3 controllers can support up to 15 devices.
MHz-- megahertz refers to the internal clock rate of the CPU (microprocessor). Usually, the higher the number, the faster the chip... the quicker it can process data. For example: 333MHz Pentium II is faster than a 233MHz Pentium II, which is supposedly faster than a Pentium 200MHz MMX chip. For more information, please see the Common Misconceptions Section off the main menu.
MMX. A feature added to the Intel CPU chip, which contains 57 extra instructions to enhance multimedia and graphics performance, with those programs which are designed to take advantage of them.
Pentium II. An Intel CPU - the next generation. Currently the fastest CPU on the market for the IBM and compatible systems. Plugs into the motherboard differently than any other Intel CPU has, offering faster bus speeds and performance. The 333MHz is the fastest an end-user can "touch" as of the writing of this document... with a 700MHz chip being tested and shown to the Industry today!
PostScript.
Prepress. This is the process of setting up the artwork you created for reproduction on a printing press - whether it is paper or silk screen, pre-press work will still need to be done (either by you or the printer you are taking your work to).
Query. A process of selecting or filtering out certain data (from a database or spreadsheet) based on criteria you define. Submitting the query results in a found set of records, assuming records matching the criteria you defined exist. This is very common in contact managers and mailing lists.
RAM. Random Access Memory - refers to the chips that temporarily stores instructions from both your operating system, open applications, and user input while your computer is powered on and data is on the screen (or in the background). See RAM under the components section.
RESOLUTION. The number of dots used to represent an image. This is usually measured in dots per inch (dpi).
SCSI. Small computer system interface, a standard that allows up to seven devices (hard disks, tape or CD-ROM drives, scanners) to be connected through a single "host" controller.
SCSI ID. Each SCSI device is in a chain, and must have its own identification number - like a street address, generally from 1 to 7. IDs are usually set by a dial, jumpers, or switches on the individual SCSI device.
SDRAM - Synchronous DRAM is just like the standard EDO RAM but faster and more expensive.
SGRAM - Synchronous Graphics RAM
USB. Universal serial bus, a new type of expansion port which will eventually replace the serial ports on your computer. USB opens up a lot of possibilities (for the few devices that will currently work on them). It allows up to 63 devices on ONE port, chained - liked the SCSI, but without all the hassles.
VDRAM - Video RAM
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This page/site was last updated
02 April 2000