microprocessor – An integrated circuit on the system board that contains the entire central processing unit. May be considered the brain of the computer. The speed of a microprocessor is measured in megahertz. See hertz, megahertz.
Microsoft Internet Explorer – A Web browser developed by the Microsoft Corporation; used to view hypertext documents on intranet web sites as well as documents on the World Wide Web.
Microsoft Windows – The family of
Microsoft Windows Explorer – A browser program used to access and view the contents of data storage drives available to the computer.
Microsoft Windows NT – A network operating system developed by the Microsoft Corporation.
MIDI – See Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
MIDI/Gameport connector – A receptacle that accepts a gamepad, joystick, or similar device to permit more realistic game play than is possible with a mouse or touchpad.
MMX – See multimedia extension.
modem (modulator/demodulator) – A device that converts data from a digital to analog format at the originating computer so that it can be transmitted over standard telephone lines. The modem at the receiving end of the transmission then converts the data from analog back to digital format so that the receiving computer can read it. See analog, digital.
motherboard – See system board.
Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) – A working group of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), responsible for generating data compression standards for digital video and audio data.
mouse – A device used to move a pointer on the display as well as make selections by clicking the buttons. See
MPEG – See Motion Picture Expert Group.
multimedia – The presence of two or more formats, such as audio, animation, graphics, text, or video.