MB
Megabyte.
Megahertz
1,000,000 cycles per second.
Memory
A repository for data and applications which is readily accessible to your LifeBook CPU.
MHz
Megahertz.
MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A standard communication protocol for exchange of information between computers and sound producers such
as synthesizers.
Modem
A contraction for
Monaural
A system using one channel to process sound from all sources.
MPU-401
A standard for MIDI interfaces and connectors.
NTSC
National TV Standards Commission. The standard for TV broadcast and reception for the USA.
Operating System
A group of control programs that convert application commands, including driver programs, into the exact form required by a specific brand and model of micro- processor in order to produce the desired results from that particular equipment.
PAL
Phase Alternating Line. The standard for TV broadcast and reception for Europe.
Parallel Port
A connection to another device through which data is transferred as a block of bits simultaneously with a wire for each bit in the block and with other wires only for control of the device not for transfer of data.
Partition
A block of space on a hard drive which is set aside and made to appear to the operating system as if it were a separate disk, and addressed by the operating system accordingly.
PCMCIA
PCMCIA is a trademark of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association is an
G l o s s a r y
organization that sets standards for
Peripheral Device
A piece of equipment which performs a specific function associated with but not integral to a computer. Examples: a printer, a modem, a
Pitch (keyboard)
The distance between the centers of the letter keys of a keyboard.
Pixel
The smallest element of a display, a dot of color on your display screen. The more pixels per area the clearer your image will appear.
POST
Power On Self Test. A program which is part of the BIOS which checks the configuration and operating condition of your hardware whenever power is applied to your LifeBook. Status and error messages may be displayed before the operating system is loaded. If the self test detects failures that are so serious that operation can not continue, the operating system will not be loaded.
Program
An integrated set of coded commands to your computers telling your hardware what to do and how and when to do it.
PS/2
An IBM series of personal computers which established a number of standards for connecting external devices such as keyboards and monitors.
RAM
Random Access Memory. A hardware component of your LifeBook that holds binary information (both program and data) as long as it has the proper power applied to it.
RAM Module
A printed circuit card with memory and associated circuitry which allows the user to add additional memory to the computer without special tools.
Reset
The act of reloading the operating system. A reset erases all information stored in RAM.
Restart
See Reset.
Resume
To proceed after interruption. In your LifeBook this refers to returning to active operation after having been in one of the suspension states.
ROM
Read Only Memory. A form of memory in which infor- mation is stored by physically altering the material. Data
87
