Glossary
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RJ-11—A modular connector used on most U.S. telephone systems and
direct-connect modems. The RJ-11 connector is a 6-wire connector.
ROM (read-only memory)—Non-volatile memory that can be read but
not written to. By non-volatile, we mean that information in ROM
remains whether or not the computer is receiving power. This type of
memory is used to store your computer’s BIOS, which is essential
instructions the computer reads when you start it up. See also BIOS,
memory. Compare RAM.
S
select—To highlight or otherwise specify text, data, or graphics with the
intent to perform some operation on it.
shortcut—See keyboard shortcut.
software—See program. Compare hardware.
Standby—A feature of some Windows operating systems that allows
you to turn off the computer without exiting your open applications
and to continue from where you left off when you turn the computer
on again.
Suspend—A feature of some Windows operating systems that allows
you to turn off the computer without exiting your open applications
and to continue from where you left off when you turn the computer
on again.
system disk—A diskette that contains the operating system files needed
to start the computer. Any diskette can be formatted as a system disk.
A system disk is also called a “bootable disk” or a “startup disk.”
Compare non-system disk.
system prompt—The symbol (in MS-DOS, generally a drive letter
followed by a “greater than” sign) indicating where users are to enter
commands.
T
TFT display—See active-matrix display.
U
universal serial bus (USB)—USB is a serial bus that supports a data
transfer rate of up to 480 Mbps (480 million bits per second). USB can
connect up to 127 peripheral devices through a single all-purpose USB
port. USB allows hot swapping of peripherals. See also bus, hot
swapping, serial.
upload—To send a file to another computer through a modem or
network. See also download.
