| Anti-virus software | detects and removes or quarantines computer viruses.
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| Application software | software that enables you to solve specific problems or perform specific tasks.
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| Arithmetic/logic unit (A/L unit) | performs all arithmetic operations (for example, addition and subtraction) and all logic operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers).
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| ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) | the coding system that most personal computers use to represent, process, and store information.
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| Bar code reader | captures information that exists in the form of vertical bars whose width and distance apart determine a number.
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| Binary digit (bit) | the smallest unit of information that your computer can process.
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| Byte | a group of eight bits that represents one natural language character.
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| CD-R (compact disc-recordable) | optical or laser disc that offers one-time writing capability with about 800MB of storage capacity.
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| CD-ROM | optical or laser disc that offers no updating capabilities with about 800MB of storage capacity. Most software today comes on CD-ROM.
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| CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) | offers unlimited writing and updating capabilities on the CD.
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| Central processing unit (CPU) | the actual hardware that interprets and executes the software instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together.
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| Communications software | helps you communicate with other people.
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| Connectivity software | enables you to use your computer to "dial up" or connect to another computer.
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| Control unit | interprets software instructions and literally tells the other hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions.
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| Crash-proof software | utility software that helps you save information if your system crashes and you're forced to turn it off and then back on again.
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| CRT | a monitor that looks like a television set.
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| Database management system (DBMS) | helps you specify the logical organization for a database and access and use the information within the database.
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| Desktop computer | the most popular choice for personal computing needs.
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| Desktop publishing software | extends word processing software by including design and formatting techniques to enhance the layout and appearance of a document.
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| Disk optimization software utility | software that organizes your information on your hard disk in the most efficient way.
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| Dot pitch | the distance between the centers of a pair of likecolored pixels.
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| DVD-R | optical or laser disc that offers one-time writing capability with upward of 17GB of storage capacity.
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| DVD-ROM | optical or laser disc that offers no updating capabilities with upward of 17GB of storage capacity. The trend is now for movie rentals to be on DVD.
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| DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, or DVD+RW | (all different names by different manufacturers) optical or laser disc that offers unlimited writing and updating capabilities on the DVD.
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| E-mail software (electronic mail software) | enables you to electronically communicate with other people by sending and receiving e-mail.
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| Expansion bus | moves information from your CPU and RAM to all of your other hardware devices such as your microphone and printer.
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| Expansion card | a circuit board that you insert into an expansion slot.
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| Expansion slot | a long skinny socket on the motherboard into which you insert an expansion card.
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| Flat-panel display | thin, lightweight monitor that takes up much less space than a CRT.
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| Floppy disk | storage device that is great for portability of information and ease of updating but holds only 1.44MB of information.
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| Gigabyte (GB or Gig) | roughly 1 billion characters.
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| Gigahertz (GHz) | the number of billions of CPU cycles per second.
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| Graphics software | helps you create and edit photos and art.
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| Hard disk | storage device that rests within your system box and offers both ease of updating and great storage capacity.
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| Hardware | the physical devices that make up a computer (often referred to as a computer system).
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| High-capacity floppy disk | storage device that is great for portability and ease of updating and holds between 100MB and 250MB of information. Superdisks and Zip disks are examples.
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| Horizontal market software | application software that is general enough to be suitable for use in a variety of industries.
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| Information technology (IT) | any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization.
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| Inkjet printer | makes images by forcing ink droplets through nozzles.
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| Input device | a tool you use to capture information and commands.
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| IrDA (infrared data association) port | for wireless devices that work in essentially the same way as the remote control on your TV.
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| Keyboard | today's most popular input technology.
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| Laser printer | forms images using an electrostatic process, the same way a photocopier works.
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| Linux | an open-source operating system that provides a rich operating environment for high-end workstations and network servers.
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| Mac OS | the operating system for today's Apple computers.
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| Mainframe computer (sometimes just called a mainframe) | a computer designed to meet the computing needs of hundreds of people in a large business environment.
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| Megabyte (MB or M or Meg) | roughly 1 million bytes.
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| Megahertz (MHz) | the number of millions of CPU cycles per second.
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| Microphone | for capturing live sounds such as a dog barking or your voice (for automatic speech recognition).
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| Microsoft Windows 2000 Millennium (Windows 2000 Me) | an operating system for a home computer user with utilities for setting up a home network and performing video, photo, and music editing and cataloging.
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