Compu-pedia glossary l-n

LAN	Local Area Network. Two or more computers connected by cable and using a suitable operating system and application software so they can directly share hard disks, printers, other peripherals, and files.
laptop	A portable computer bigger than a notebook computer but still light enough to use on your lap. Usually somewhat larger than a sheet of paper, and at least two inches thick.
laser printer	A xerographic printer that uses a laser to draw the image of the page to be printed on the photosensitive drum.
LPT	Originally, Line Printer. Now, the logical device name for a parallel port.
macro	A series of commands and procedures that are carried out in response to a single command or keystroke, or identified by a single name.
mainframe	A very large, fast, multiuser computer. Usually at least as big as a refrigerator.
MB Megabyte	1,048,576 bytes. Informally, a million bytes. A unit of memory and data storage size. Two Scientific American magazines total about a megabyte.
memory	A place in computer circuitry that stores data. See RAM, ROM, buffer, cache. Also the tendency in NiCad batteries to retain their charge and lose their ability to be recharged.
menu	A list of choices on a computer screen. Usually the user picks a choice by typing the desired item number or by highlighting the desired item and pressing Enter.
MHz	MegaHertz. Millions of cycles per second. The unit of frequency used to measure the clock rate microprocessors.
microcomputer	A computer small enough to fit on a desktop, with a single-chip CPU.
MIDI	Musical Instrument Digital Interface. An interface for connecting suitably equipped musical instruments to suitably equipped computers.
minicomputer	A computer about the size of a two-drawer filing cabinet, between a micro and mainframe in power.
modem	Short for modulator-demodulator. A device that enables a computer to communicate with other computers over telephone lines. monitor The part of a computer that looks like a TV. The video display of a computer.
mouse	A hand-held device for moving the cursor or pointer on the screen. Movements of the mouse produce analogous movements of the pointer.
MS-DOS	Microsoft Disk Operating System. A single user operating system for PCs from Microsoft.
multitasking	The ability of a computer, operating system, or application to perform more than one task or operation at the same time. For example, a multitasking operating system might let you simultaneously use your computer system to download information from a remote computer with a modem, print out a word processing file, and sort a data base.
nerd	A person with limited social, but advanced technological skills and interests.
network	An arrangement of objects that are interconnected. See LAN. Also, the transmission channels in communications which interconnect all client and server stations as well as all supporting hardware and software.
notebook computer	A portable computer about the size of a piece of paper and usually less than two inches thick. Fits in an attaché case.
Num Lock key	Short for numeric lock. A toggle key that switches the numeric keypad keys between their numeric function and arrow key functions.