28
Cache, -ing –
This is an area of electronic storage (usually RAM) set aside to
store frequently used data from electro-mechanical storage (hard drives,
floppy disks, CD/DVD-ROM, tape cartridges, etc.) Therefore, storing frequently
used data in RAM can enhance your system’s overall response to disk-
intensive operations significantly.
CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) –
Recordable optical disc that has up to
700MB of storage capacity.
CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) –
Small optical disc made
of plastic that cannot be erased or written to.
CD-RW (Compact Disc ReWritable) –
Rewritable optical disc that has up
to 700MB of storage capacity and which theoretically can be rewritten 1,000
times.
CD-XA (CD-Extended Architecture) –
A format developed by Philips and
Sony that is intended to store computer data, video and audio tracks on the
same CD-ROM.
Configuration –
When talking about a PC, configuration is understood to be
the sum of the internal and external components of the system, including
memory, disk drives, the keyboard, the video subsystem and other peripherals,
such as the mouse, modem or printer. The configuration also implies software:
the operating system and various device managers (drivers), as well as
hardware settings and options set by the user via configuration files.
Controller –
This is a component or an electronic card (referred to in this
case as a "controller card") that enables a computer to communicate with or
manage certain peripherals. The controller manages the operation of the
peripheral associated with it, and links the PC bus to the peripheral via a
ribbon cable inside the PC. An external controller is an expansion card which
fills one of the free slots inside your PC and which enables a peripheral (CD-
ROM drive, scanner or printer, for instance) to be connected to the computer.
Cross-platform –
Term that refers to a device that is able to be operated by
both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Data Stream –
The flow of data that accomplishes a task, usually related to
moving data from storage to computer RAM or between storage devices. In
DVD-Video, these bits are processed by the decoder on the video player. This
stream contains all the information necessary for the decoder to work and
view the image on the DVD video player.
