IBM ThinkPad 380 or 380D User's Guide

Appendix F. Glossary

This glossary includes terms and definitions from the IBM Dictionary of Computing (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994). Glossary

ac

Alternating current.

ac power

Power that is supplied to the computer through an electrical outlet.

Advanced Power Management (APM)

A facility consisting of one or more layers of software that support power management in computers with power manageable hardware. The APM software interface allows applications, operating systems, device drivers, and the APM BIOS to work together to reduce power consumption, without reducing system performance.

ANSI

American National Standards Institute.

APM

Advanced Power Management.

application program

A program that performs specific tasks on your computer, such as word processing or creating spreadsheets.

ASCII

American National Standard Code for Information Interchange.

ATA PC Card

A PC Card with an AT attachment hard disk drive interface such as a storage device PC Card.

AUTOEXEC.BAT

A file that contains a startup procedure of DOS. Each time you start your system, DOS performs the commands that are stored in this file.

backup copy

A copy, usually of a file or group of files, that is kept in case the original file or files are unintentionally changed or destroyed.

batch

A process method in which a program or programs records with little or no operator action.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

Microcode that contains such basic hardware operations as interactions with diskette drives, hard disk drives, and the keyboard. (Ref #134.)

bitmap graphics

(1) A form of graphics in which all points on the display are directly addressable. (2) In multimedia applications, a form of graphics in an area of computer memory or storage that can be displayed as an image.

boot

To prepare a computer system for operation by loading an operating system.

bps

Bits per second. In serial transmission, the instantaneous bit speed with which a device or channel transmits a character.

bus

A facility for transferring data between several devices located between two end points, only one device being able to transmit at a given moment.

cache memory

A special memory, smaller and faster than main memory, that is used to hold a copy of instructions and data in main memory that are likely to be needed next by the processor, and that have been obtained automatically from main memory.

CD-i

Compact disc-interactive.

combination keys

Keys that have specific functions when you hold them down at the same time.

CONFIG.SYS

A file that contains a group of commands to load installable device drivers and reserve space in system memory for information processing. This file is referred to by DOS during system startup.

configuration

(1) The manner in which the hardware and software of an information processing system are organized and interconnected. (2) The physical and logical arrangement of devices and programs that make up a data processing system. (3) The devices and programs that make up a system, subsystem, or network.

CRT

Cathode ray tube display.

device driver

A file that contains the code needed to attach and use a device. Operating system loads device drivers for screens, keyboards, printers, diskette drives, hard disk drives, and auxiliary devices. The user can replace these or add other devices by coding and loading a device driver.

DIMM

Dual inline memory module.

DIP switch

In an IBM personal computer, a two-position switch on a circuit board that is preset to control certain functions; the user can change the position of a DIP switch to satisfy special requirements.

directory

A type of file containing the names and controlling information for other files or other directories.

DMA

Direct memory access. The transfer of data between memory and input/output units without processor intervention.

double-click

To press and release a mouse button twice within a time frame defined by the user, without moving the pointer off the choice.

DSP

Digital signal processor.

ECP

Extended Capability Port.

EGA

Enhanced graphics adapter.

EIA

Electronics Industries Association.

EIA-232D

An EIA interface standard that defines the physical, electronic, and functional characteristics of an interface line that connects a communication device and associated workstation. It uses a 25-pin connector and an unbalanced line voltage.

EMS

Expanded memory specification.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

fax

Facsimile machine.

A transmitted document from a facsimile machine.

fixed disk

In personal computing, fixed disk is synonymous with hard disk.

flash memory

Electrically rewritable storage.

folder

A file used to store and organize documents.

fuel gauge

An indicator on the screen that constantly shows the current power status of the battery pack.

HHR

Half-horizontal resolution.

hibernation

One of the power-saving methods that stores data and applications running in the computer's memory on the hard disk. During hibernation, the computer is automatically turned off to save power. When power is turned on again, the computer immediately restores the same data and applications as when hibernation started, without restarting the operating system.

high-resolution mode

Video resolutions that are greater than 640 by 480 pels.

icon

A graphic symbol, displayed on a screen, that a user can point to with a pointing device such as a TrackPoint III or mouse to select a particular function or software application.

IDE

Integrated device electronics.

IR

Infrared.

ISA

Industry standard architecture.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization.

JEIDA

Japan Electronics Industry Development Association.

kilobyte (KB)

1024 bytes.

LAN

Local area network.

MCI

Media Control Interface.

megabyte (MB)

1024 kilobytes. About 1 million bytes.

memory

Often referred to as random-access memory (RAM), measured in kilobytes (KB) or megabytes (MB) of information.

MHz

Megahertz.

microcode

One or more microinstructions used in a product as an alternative to hard-wired circuitry to implement functions of a processor or other system component.

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface.

modem

A device that connects your computer to a telephone line, allowing it to communicate with another computer at another location.

MPEG

Moving Pictures Experts Group

parallel port

A port used to attach such devices as dot-matrix printers and input/output units; it transmits data 1 byte at a time.

partial suspend mode

A kind of suspend mode where only a part of the system components uses power.

password

A series of letters or numbers that you designate to restrict access to your computer.

PC Card

A card that is based on the PCMCIA standard.

PCMCIA

Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.

pel

Picture element.

picture element

In computer graphics, the smallest element of a display surface that can be independently assigned color and intensity.

pixel

Picture element.

pointing device

An instrument, such as a mouse, TrackPoint III, or joystick, that is used to move a pointer on the screen.

POST

Power-on self-test.

pop-up menu

On the display screen, a menu that emerges in an upward direction from a particular point or line on a display screen.

prompt

A visual or audible message sent by a program to request the user's response.

pull-down menu

On the display screen, a menu that emerges in a downward direction from a point or line at or near the top of the screen.

reboot

To restart all operations of the computer as if the power had just been turned on.

resume

To begin computer operations again from suspend mode.

ROM

Read-only memory.

serial port

A port used to attach such devices as display devices, letter-quality printers, modems, plotters, and such pointing devices as light pens and mice; it transmits data 1 bit at a time.

suspend

Stops all operations of the computer to reduce power drain and restrict access to the files.

SVGA

Super video graphics adapter.

TFT

Thin film transistor.

TSRs

Terminate-and-stay-resident programs, memory-resident programs that are loaded into memory and stay there so you can conveniently access them whenever you need to.

vertical expansion

A video display technique in character-display mode to fit video images on the whole LCD screen by adjusting the number of character dots vertically.

VESA

Video Electronics Standards Association.

VGA

Video graphics adapter, a video mode that produces up to 640-by-480 resolution.

VSYNC

Vertical synchronization frequency.

XMS

Extended memory specification.

Index