A way of connecting multiple peripherals to your computer via one port. Several "scuzzy" devices -- ones that use an SCSI port -- can be connected to each other (i.e., hard drive to printer to scanner) and then plugged into the back of your computer, instead of plugging each peripheral into its own port.
An electrical pathway that carries data between the CPU, memory and peripherals. The width of the data bus dictates how much data it can carry at once. This, along with the speed of the CPU and other factors, determines the computer's speed. For example, a 32-bit bus carries 32 bits of data at a time, allowing for faster processing potential than a 16-bit bus. See also bus and the related article on data buses.
data transfer rate
See transfer rate.
To rewrite files to adjacent sectors of a fragmented disk. Software such as Norton Utilities Speed Disk from Symantec automatically re-writes a disk's data so that files are stored in adjacent, or "contiguous," sectors. Doing so speeds the disk's operation and maximizes its capacity. Running defragmentation software requires a certain amount of free disk space -- so the file parts literally can be juggled from one area of the disk to another -- and can take a long time (perhaps an hour, depending on the disk size and severity of fragmentation).
A demonstration version of a commercial software product. You can download and use demoware for free, but some features are almost always disabled.
The background of a graphical user interface used with popular operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OS. "Desktop" continues the metaphor suggested by the various documents, folders, trash cans and icons of other things that might be found in or around an actual desk.
See binary and digital audio.
A paint-by-numbers type of process that stores and/or transmits audio as binary code, which tells a device called a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter how to reproduce an analogwaveform -- sound, in other words.
Protagonist and title of a computer-savvy comic strip.
Dual Inline Memory Module. A memory module used to increase the amount of RAM in a computer. DIMMs have 168-pin designs.
A utility that enhances multimedia capabilities on your computer. DirectX provides better playback of different types of multimedia and manages 3D graphics. Every new version of DirectX incorporates more advanced 3D graphics capabilities with the result that software programmers and video card manufacturers usually require the latest version for their newest products
One of many possible solutions to seek if your system crashes.
Disk operating system, the full name for the operating system of a personal computer. DOS is also common shorthand for MS-DOS.
A measurement of resolution for printers and scanners. The unit counts dots per linear inch, meaning the count per square inch equals the dpi squared.
The distance between the pixels on a monitor's screen. The closer the dots are to each other, the brighter the image. A lower dot pitch number means the dots are closer together.
(v., n., adj.) To transfer a file from one computer to another. The word download usually refers to a transfer between a larger computer -- a mainframe, server or "host" -- and a smaller one -- a "client." The opposite is called an upload or uploading.
Dots per inch.
A small program that tells another program how to communicate with and control a peripheral. A device driver is a program that allows the operating system to work with a specific peripheral.
Digital Subscriber Line is a technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines. A DSL line can carry both data and voice signals and the data part of the line is continuously connected.
An estimate of how hard you can work a printer lest it break before its time, usually expressed in pages per month.
DVD, introduced in 1996, was originally known as Digital Video Disc but soon became known as Digital Versatile Disc. It is the next generation of optical disc storage technology. which shares the same overall dimensions of a CD, but have significantly higher capacities - holding from 4 to 28 times as much data. Single sided DVDs can store 4.7GB for single layer and 8.5GB for dual-layer disks. Double sided DVDs can store 9.4GB for single layer and 17GB for dual-layer disks.