Toshiba 8100 series, User Manual

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Part III: Appendixes
Glossary
309
PC Card: A credit-card-sized expansion card designed to increase the
capabilities of notebook computers. PC Cards provide functions
such as modem, fax/modem, hard disk drive, network adapter,
sound card, or SCSI adapter.
pel: The smallest display element that the computer can control. It
consists of a single pixel (dot), or a set of contiguous pixels.
peripheral device: A unit that makes and/or receives data transfers
initiated by the processor. The term includes storage devices (hard
disks, magnetic tape units), input devices (keyboard, mouse) and
output devices (printers, plotters). A peripheral device may be
internal (mounted in the same case as the CPU) or external (a
separate unit connected to one of the computer’s ports).
pixel: A picture element. The smallest dot that can be produced on a
screen or printer.
Plug and Play: A design standard that hardware manufacturers use to
produce devices that can be configured automatically (provided you
use Windows 95 or Windows 98).
point: A unit of measurement for printed characters. One point is 1/72 of
an inch. A 12-point font is approximately 1/6 inch high.
pointing device: Any device, such as the AccuPoint II or a mouse, that
enables you to move the cursor on the screen.
port: A socket on the computer where you plug in a cable for connection
to a network or a peripheral device. It provides the electrical
connection through which the computer sends and receives
information to and from peripheral devices or other computers.
Standard ports include parallel and serial ports.
port expander: A hardware device which connects to some notebook
computers to provide additional ports and capability. Typically,
these are the serial, parallel, PS/2 and video ports. Also called an I/O
adapter.
port replicator: A unit to which you can connect your notebook
computer for use in the office. It replicates all the computer’s ports
and provides immediate access to your external devices (such as
printer, external monitor, network adapter) instead of having to
connect them up each time you return to your desk. See also
docking station.