palmtop
A portable personal computer
whose size enables it to be held in one hand while it is
operated with the other hand. A major difference between
palmtop computers and laptop computers is that palmtops are
usually powered by off-the-shelf batteries such as AA cells.
Palmtop computers typically do not have disk drives; rather,
their programs are stored in ROM and are loaded into RAM when
they are switched on. More recent palmtop computers are
equipped with PCMCIA slots to provide wider flexibility and
greater capability.
patch
A piece of programming code that is added to an existing
program to repair a deficiency in the functionality of an
existing routine or program. It is generally provided in
response to an unforeseen need or set of circumstances.
Patching is also a common means of adding a new feature or
function to a program until the next major version of the
software is released.
PC
An acronym for personal computer, it is now a
commonly used term that means any microcomputer that includes
a microprocessor in the Intel 80x86 family (or compatible).
PC
Card
An add-in card, first introduced in 1990,
that conforms to the specifications of the Personal Computer
Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). It is a
removable device, approximately the same size as a credit
card, that is designed to plug into a PCMCIA slot. PC cards
can function as a modem, fax or network card, as well as offer
additional memory to a system.
PC-compatible
Conforming to IBM
PC/XT and PC/AT hardware and software specifications, which
has been the de facto standard in the computing industry for
personal computers that use the Intel 80x86 family or
compatible chips. Though most PC-compatible computers today
are developed outside of IBM; they are still sometimes
referred to as clones.
PC-DOS
Acronym for Personal Computer
Disk Operating System. This is the version of MS-DOS sold by
IBM. MS-DOS and PC-DOS are virtually identical, although
filenames of utility programs sometimes differ in the two
versions.
PCMCIA
Acronym for Personal Computer
Memory Card International Association. It is the common
standard for PC Card-based peripherals and the slot designed
to hold them, primarily on laptop, palmtop, and other portable
computers, as well as for intelligent electronic devices. The
PCMCIA standard was first introduced in 1990.
PC memory
card
An add-in circuit card that increases the
amount of RAM in a system, as specified by PCMCIA. The card
consists of conventional static RAM chips powered by a small
battery and is designed to provide additional RAM to the
system.
prerequisite
As related to Microsoft
product compliance, a prerequisite refers to what is needed
for a given product to reach the compliance classification
indicated. It could include a software update that is required
or a specific version of a related Microsoft technology that
the product needs.
