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online Help A manual that displays on the screen while you are actually working in a program and need help. It can be accessed through the Help menu at the top of the screen. Help for Windows can be accessed from the Start button on the taskbar.

online shopping Ordering products on the Internet, such as books, flowers, music CDs, toys, groceries, stocks, airline tickets, and used cars.

OS (operating system) The interface that permits a person and a computer to “talk” to one another. Microsoft Windows, the most popular operating system, displays icons, menus, and dialogue boxes to find out what you want. You use a mouse and keyboard to reply. See also Microsoft Windows. See also interface.

parallel port A connector on the back of the computer for plugging in a parallel cable attached to a parallel device, such as a printer. Data is transferred, one byte at a time, through eight data wires (one for each bit in the byte). All eight bits travel side by side and arrive at the same time. A parallel port is faster than a serial port, which lets data through one bit at a time. See digital. See also serial port.

path A sequence of information that directs the operating system to a file. For

GLOSSARY-10

example, C:\Windows\Clouds.bmp is the path to a bitmap file named Clouds. It is located in a folder named Windows, which is located on the C drive.

PC card A removable device that is designed to plug into a PCMCIA slot to accommodate devices such as a modem, fax, and rotating storage media.

peripheral An external device connected to a computer. Examples are a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, joystick, and digital camera.

pixel One of the individual dots, or picture elements, that compose a graphical image. See also graphics.

playlist Tracks chosen to play from a CD or DVD.

plug-and-playA feature, introduced with Windows 95, to simplify the use of some peripheral devices. Once the device has been installed (in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions), you can plug it into the computer while the computer is running. The operating system automatically recognises the new device. (In order to connect a non-plug-and-play device, you must first shut down the computer.) See also peripheral.

pop-up menu A list of options that pops up when you right-click an icon on the desktop or taskbar, the vacant part of the desktop, a selection in a document, or a file in Windows Explorer. See also right-click.

processor (short for microprocessor). The brains of the computer.