Glossary
page 41
LaCie DVD Dual Drive
User’s Manual
Port, hardware –
A connection component (SCSI port, for example) that enables a microprocessor to communicate with a
compatible peripheral.
Port, software –
A memory address that identifies the physical circuit used to transfer information between a microprocessor
and a peripheral.
RAM (Random Access Memory) –
Generally referred to as a computer’s “memory.” An integrated circuit memory chip that
allows information to be stored and retrieved by a microprocessor or controller. The information can be stored or accessed in
any order, and all storage locations are equally accessible.
Seek Time –
The amount of time (in thousandths of a second, or milliseconds) that it takes a hard drive’s read/write head to
move to a specific location n the disk. Average seek, then, is the average of a large number of random samplings all over the
disk. Seek time is CPU independent, meaning that seek time is the same for a disk drive, whether it is attached to a computer
or not.
Session at Once (SAO) –
CD authoring process which is similar to DAO, where all of the information is written to in one
session, but SAO allows for the ability to begin another session and record at a later time. This mode allows for greater
control of the recording process than MiS, PW or TAO, and more disc space can be utilized because there is no need for
gaps between tracks.
Software –
In a nutshell, software is a set of instructions for the computer. A set of instructions to perform a particular task is
called a program. There are two main types of software: system software (an operating system such as Mac OS or Windows)
which controls the operation of the computer and application software (programs such as Word or Excel) which enable users
to perform tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, graphics, etc.
Storage –
In computers, any equipment in which information may be kept. PCs generally use disk units and other external
storage media (diskettes, CD-ROMs, magnetic disks, etc.) for permanent storage of information.
Track at Once (TAO) –
CD authoring process where data is added one track at a time, and the data can be added at a later
time. The CD being written to, though, can only be read in the CD recorder until the disc is finalized (meaning that no more
data can be added). There is also a gap of 2 seconds added between tracks, which will be heard as noise in some audio
players.
Transfer Rate –
The rate at which the drive sends and receives data from the controller. Transfer rates for reading data from
the disk drive may not be the same as the transfer rate for writing data to the disk drive. Transfer rates are CPU dependent,
meaning that regardless of how great a transfer rate your drive is capable of, the actual transfer rate can only be as fast as
the slowest of your hard drive and computer.
