Glossary 125
PC Card
PC Card stands for personal computer card. The Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association (PCMCIA) defines the standards used to develop
all PC Cards. PC Card types include: modems, Ethernet adapters, SCSI adapters,
ATA cards, and memory cards.
PC slot
The PC slot is the hardware slot in the computer where the PC Card is placed.
Pixel
A pixel is an individual dot in a graphic displayed on your computer. The pixels
are so close together that they look as though they are connected. An LCD screen
displays thousands or millions of pixels.
Plug and Play
A plug and play operating system automatically configures computer components
to work with your system. With this type of operating system, you normally do
not need to set jumpers on devices or set memory addresses or IRQs.
RAM (random access memory)
The computer's system memory, including conventional and extended memory.
You can write to and read from RAM. Information stored in RAM is temporary,
and is erased when the system is turned off.
Refresh rate
The refresh rate is the rate at which the image on the LCD screen is rewritten to
the screen. A fast refresh rate helps keep the image from flickering.
Resolution
The resolution is the sharpness or clarity of the image on your LCD screen.
Resolution is measured by the number of pixels the computer’s screen can
display. For example, a resolution of 800 x 600 means that the screen can display
800 pixels in row and can display 600 rows. The more pixels displayed, the higher
the resolution and the better the image.
ROM (read-only memory)
Permanent computer memory dedicated to a particular function. For example, the
instructions for starting the computer when you first turn on power are contained
in ROM. You cannot write to ROM. (ROM is not the same as RAM).
Sector
Also known as
disk sector
. The portion of a track that is numbered and can hold
a specified number of characters (usually 512 KB).
