A Appendix

DVD is essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold video as well as audio and computer data. With these capacities and access rates, DVD discs can provide you with dramatically-enhanced high-color, full-motion videos, better graphics, sharper pictures, and Dolby® Digital Surround for a theater-like experience. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and perhaps even video game cartridges. DVD has widespread support from all major electronics companies, all major computer hardware companies, and most major movie and music studios.

Device Driver

A device driver is a special set of instructions that allows the computer’s operating system to communicate with devices such as VGA, audio, Ethernet, printer, or modem.

Hardware

Hardware is a general term referring to the physical components of a computer system, including peripherals such as printers, modems, and pointing devices.

IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)

IDE devices integrate the drive control circuitry directly on the drive itself, eliminating the need for a separate adapter card (in the case for SCSI devices). UltraDMA/66 or 100 IDE devices can achieve up to 33MB/Sec transfer.

IEEE1394

Also known as iLINK (Sony) or FireWire (Apple). IEEE1394 is a high speed serial bus like SCSI but has simple connections and hot-plugging capabilities like USB. The interface IEEE1394 has a bandwidth of 400-1000 Mbits/sec and can handle up to 63 units on the same bus. It is very likely that IEEE1394, together with USB, will replace Parallel, IDE, SCSI, and EIDE ports. IEEE1394 is also used in high-end digital equipment and should be marked “DV” for Digital Video port.

Infrared Port (IrDA)

The infrared (IrDA) communication port allows convenient wireless data communication with infrared -equipped devices or computers. This allows easy wireless synchronization with PDAs or mobile phones and even wireless printing to printers. If your office supports IrDA networking, you can have wireless connection to a network anywhere provided there is a direct line of sight to an IrDA node. Small offices can use IrDA technology to share a printer between several closely placed Notebook PCs and even send files to each other without a network.

Kensington® Locks

Kensington® locks (or compatible) allow the Notebook PC to be secured usually using a metal cable and lock that prevent the Notebook PC to be removed from a fixed object. Some security products may also include a motion detector to sound an alarm when moved.

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