Satellite A660/A660D, Satellite A665/A665D

Read Only Memory (ROM): Non-volatile memory that can be read but not written to. Non-volatile here means that information in ROM remains whether or not the computer is receiving power. This type of memory is used to store your computer’s BIOS, which is essential instructions the computer reads when you start it up. See also BIOS, memory. Compare RAM.

S

S/P DIF: A standard of digital interface for audio.

SCSI: Small Computer System Interface is an industry standard interface for connection of a variety of peripheral devices.

SD/SDHC/SDXC Card: Secure Digital cards are flash memory widely used in a variety of digital devices such as digital cameras and Personal Digital Assistants.

serial: Processes that occur one at a time. In communications, it means the transmission of one bit at a time sequentially over a single channel. On your computer, the serial port provides a serial interface between the computer and an appropriate device. Compare parallel.

SIO: Serial Input/Output. The electronic methodology used in serial data transmission.

soft key: Key combinations that emulate keys on the IBM keyboard, change some configuration options, stop program execution, and access the numeric keypad overlay.

software: The set of programs, procedures and related documentation associated with a computer system. Specifically refers to computer programs that direct and control the computer system’s activities. See also hardware.

stop bit: One or more bits of a byte that follow the transmitted character or group codes in asynchronous serial communications.

synchronous: Having a constant time interval between successive bits, characters or events.

system disk: A diskette that contains the operating system files needed to start the computer. Any diskette can be formatted as a system disk. A system disk is also called a “bootable disk”, “boot disk” or a “startup disk.” Compare non-system disk.

T

terminal: A typewriter-like keyboard and CRT display screen connected to the computer for data input/output.

TFT display: A liquid crystal display (LCD) made from an array of liquid crystal cells using active-matrix technology with thin film transistor (TFT) to drive each cell.

User’s Manual

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