The s

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*safe mode*		A state in which Windows^® 95 loads in VGA without 32-bit drivers or network support. Usually occurs when there's a hardware or driver conflict.
*sag*		Compare surge. When the line voltage drops far enough to affect the operation of a computer.
sample		A very small piece of an analog signal; small enough that it can be treated as having a single value, which can be recorded as a digital number Also Converting analog signals (such as sound waves) into digital signals by recording many samples of the signal.
sampling rate		How many samples are taken per second. The more samples, the more accurate the recording. 44.1MHz is a standard sampling rate for high-fidelity music.
save		To store data on a floppy or hard disk so it will not be lost when the power is off.
scanner		A peripheral that converts a physical object (usually something printed on paper) into a digital graphics file. Also used as the first step in OCR.
screen		Literally, the front surface of the monitor. By extension, what you see on the screen.
screen dump		A reasonably exact copy of what's on the screen printed out or saved as a file.
Scroll Lock key		When used with software that supports it, pressing an arrow key when the Scroll Lock key is toggled on causes the screen to move while the cursor stays in one place.
SCSI		Small Computer System Interface. A high speed parallel interface.
SCSI chain		Devices connected on a single SCSI bus.
SDRAM		Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. Fast memory capable of transmitting data on every clock cycle, skipping the wait states and improving system performance.
search engine		A program on a remote machine that allows keyword searches on the Internet.
secondary write-back cache		The "secondary" refers to this type being a slower, intermediate level cache between the primary cache and the main memory. The "write-back" refers to the cache architecture, where data is only written to the main memory after it is forced out of the cache.
sector		The smallest logical division into which a disk is divided. Part of a track.
seek time		The time it takes to move a disk drive's read/write head to a given track. Compare access time.
selection		The information on a screen that is highlighted. See highlight.
sensitivity		See mouse sensitivity.
serial		One after another. The transmission of data one bit (or one signal) at a time. Compare parallel.
serial port		A connection on a device for serial communication. Identified in DOS as COM1 - COM4.
server		See file server.
ServerBench^{^®}		This benchmark test from Ziff Davis Labs measures the performance of application servers in a client/server environment, which includes the server youre testing, its PC clients, and a PC designated as the controller.
session		The time you spend logged onto a network.
set up		To assemble a system. Compare install.
setup		The physical arrangement of parts in a system. Setup is often used interchangeably with "configuration." Gateway 2000 usually uses "setup" for hardware settings and "configuration" for software settings.
setup program		Used to inform the computer about the peripherals attached to it, the amount of memory installed, the date and time, and so forth. The setup program is stored in ROM on the system board. Many large application programs run a program called SETUP.EXE to install themselves and enable you to set details about their configuration.
SGRAM		Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory. Provides high bandwidth at a low cost and has support for masked write (reduces need for read-modify-write memory operations) and block write (accelerated foreground/background fills such as color expansion for text).
shadow RAM		A method of relocating the system and/or video BIOS from slower ROM chips to faster RAM to improve system performance.
shell		A program that helps or enables a user to use the operating system.
shielding		A metal or screened enclosure that prevents RF radiation from being emitted. The FCC standards for computers include limits on how much radiation may be emitted.
shift key		A key that, when used with another key, produces an alternative meaning for the other key. Shift, Ctrl, and Alt, are shift keys. You must hold down a shift key for it to take effect. Most people consider the Caps Lock key to be a shift key. Compare toggle key.
short		An intentional or unintentional completion of an electrical circuit. Generally refers to installing a jumper between two pins. See also open and jumper.
shutdown		To clear your computer of its operating system. Compare sleep.
sign off		Same as logoff.
sign on		Same as logon.
SIMM		Single Inline Memory Module. A way of packaging RAM chips that combines several compact chips on a small circuit board. SIMM pins have a 64-bit data path and are located on both sides of the circuit board, but they connect to only one memory chip, while DIMMs can connect to multiple chips.
simplex		One-way transmission of data. Wire service terminals down in the news room are simplex devices.
slave		Any device controlled by another device. Compare peer, client.
sleep		To partially suspend operation in order to save battery power. Usually less in degree than suspend.
SLIP		Serial Line Internet Protocol. A communcation format that allows the Internet to be accessed over a serial line connected to a modem. This connection needs to have its IP address configuration set each time a connection is attempted.
slot		See expansion slot.
SMTP		An acronym for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a member of the TCP/IP suite of protocols that governs the exchange of electronic mail between message transfer agents.
software		A general term for computer program or programs.
Sound Blaster		A popular expansion card for producing sound. Made by Creative Labs^®, Inc.
sound card		An expansion card designed for sound input and output. Sound cards can record and play back digital audio. Most also have a MIDI synthesizer, which means they can play MIDI files; some also have MIDI inputs and outputs.
space parity		In data transmission, setting the parity bit so it is always zero. Compare mark.
spam		Sending copies of the same message to large numbers of newsgroups or users on the Internet. People spam the Internet to advertise products as well as to broadcast some political or social commentary.
spike		A very short but very strong pulse of electricity. Can damage computers and data. See surge protector.
spool		To overlap low-speed operations with normal processing. See print spooler.
SPX		Sequenced Packet EXchange. Netware communications protocol for controlling the transport of message packets. SPX guarantees that an entire message arrives intact and employs NetWare's IPX protocol as the delivery agent.
SRAM		Static Random Access Memory. Requires less power than DRAM and will retain values as long as the computer has power. It is usually faster, but costs more, and is most often utilized for speed critical areas of the computer, like cache. See dynamic.
SSL		Secure Socket Layer. A protocol designed by Netscape to provide secure communcation on the Internet for such things as online sales. SSL helps protect your transmission from the eyes of others.
stack		A data structure for storing items. With stack architecutre, the last item on the stack is the first one to be removed. Stacks are used for a variety of fuctions, including storing processor subroutines and return addresses.
standard memory		The first megabyte of memory in a DOS computer.
star		Computerese for asterisk, (*), also sometimes called splat.
star topology		A network arrangement in which all nodes are connected to a central computer, called a hub.
static		A type of integrated circuit that maintains its state without a clock (refresh circuitry), which allows it to use very little power. Usually faster and more expensive than dynamic. See dynamic, pseudo-static. Also short for static electricity.
static electricity		An electrical charge that can build up on certain nonconductors. Discharge of static electricity can damage computer components and data.
station		A computer on a network. See workstation.
stop bit		A signal used in asynchronous data transmission that indicates the end of a character.
storage		Any device that can store data; usually refers to disks, but includes CD-ROM and tape backup units.
string		Any sequence of characters.
subdirectory		A logical subdivision of the files on a disk. Compare root directory.
sub-notebook computer		A portable computer between palmtop and notebook in size. Just big enough to type on. Gateway 2000's HandBook is a sub-notebook computer.
subwoofer		Large drive element, typically housed in its own enclosure, responsible for producing the portion of an audio signal with frequencies around 20 or 30 Hz to 80 or 100 Hz.
Super VGA		See SVGA.
surge		A sudden increase in the strength of the electricity powering a computer. See spike.
surge protector		A device designed to filter unwanted electrical pulses from the power to a computer or other electronic device.
suspend		To shut down almost completely in order to conserve battery power.
SVGA		Super Video Graphics A rray. 800 600 or 1024 768 resolution. In practice, almost any resolution or color depth better than VGA. SVGA can support millions of colors, more colors than a monitor has pixels.
switch		In DOS, a modification to a command that starts with a slash. For example, the command format/s, is the format command with a "/s" switch.
SX		Suffix on the name of an 80386 or 80486 CPU chip that means the chip does not have a floating point unit. On 80386 chips it also means the chip has only a 16-bit internal data path and no internal cache.
synchronous		Refers to protocols that require the clocks of the communicating machines to be coordinated.
synchronous cache		A popular type of secondary SRAM cache used in most Pentium systems. Very fast, running at speeds of up to 9ns.
sysop		The person who operates a BBS. See BBS.
system		Common synonym for computer.
system administrator		See network administrator.
system board		The large circuit board that covers most of the bottom of the chassis. It is the heart of your computer system, containing the CPU, the expansion slots, and often, the system's random access memory (RAM). Frequently called the motherboard.
system clock		The oscillator that controls the timing of signals on a circuit board.
system failure		Polite term for hang, crash, lock up, and bomb.
system prompt		See DOS prompt.
system unit		The chassis containing the system board, expansion cards, disk drives, power supply, and cover.

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