Glossary 3
CD audio
Also called digital audio, uses the same format as conventional music CDs.
CD audio sounds have been digitized at a high sampling rate.
CD-ROM drive
Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. A computer-controlled device that
reads high-capacity optical discs and sends the output to the computer.
clock
Electronic timer used to synchronize computer operations.
CMOS
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. A chip that contains
nonvolatile memory in the Versa. CMOS is backed up by an internal
battery that preserves clock/calendar data and system configuration
parameters stored in CMOS.
cold boot
Process of starting up the computer by turning on the power. If power is
already on, the process means to turn off the computer and turn it on again.
A cold boot reinitializes all devices.
crt
Cathode-Ray Tube. A type of display screen used in desktop monitors. It
forms the screen image using tiny dots called, pixels. See also LCD.
cursor
A movable image on the display screen that indicates where the next
entered data appears.
D
default
A value, option, or setting that the computer automatically selects until you
direct it otherwise.
digital audio
Recorded sounds such as speech and sound effects. These are played back
by the audio circuit’s Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC).
