Glossary of Computer Terms
Use our Glossary of Computer terms
to get explainations of the terminology often encountered when purchasing a Laptop.
If we have missed anything out or you need any further help don't hesitate to call
out dedicated team of professionals. Our phone number is at the top right of the
page.
10-100 mbps
Describes a device, such as a computer's
network interface card, that can support two kinds of network speeds: 10 megabits
per second and 100 megabits per second.
See Also:
2.5G Wireless service (2.5G)
An upgrade from 2G that allows carriers
to transmit calls using packet switching, which provides for a much more efficient
use of spectrum. 2.5G is capable of speeds up to 144Kbps but typically achieves
real-world speeds of 35-60Kbps. 2.5G uses the same licensed spectrum as 2G, and
requires only minor equipment upgrades. 2.5G includes GPRS and 1XRTT.
See Also:
802.11g
A 54 megabits per second (mbps) wireless
connection commonly used in desktop and laptop computers to connect to a network
wirelessly. This is backwardly compatible with the 11Mbps 802.11b.
See Also:
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Access Point (AP)
A wireless hub or "base station"
that transmits and receives Wi-Fi wireless data traffic in a typical range of 100
to 500 feet. An external antenna can extend that range. An access point is usually
attached to a wired LAN which is connected through a router back to the Internet.
Access points are easy to set up and range in price from under £100 to over £1,000.
They are available from companies such as Linksys, Proxim, D-Link, Netgear, Cisco
and many others.-
Acer
Acer Laptops comprise stunning style,
excellent usability and unrivalled value. Acer Aspire laptops for seamless multi
media , Extensa for the Home and value conscious user, Travelmate for Business and
the outstanding Acer Ferrari range for premium style and performance. Acer laptops
are reknowned for their reliability and ease of use.
Adobe
Adobe Acrobat reader (reads electronic
documents), Adobe GoLive (designs Web pages), Adobe InDesign (used for desktop publishing)
and Adobe Photoshop (creates and modifies images).-
Asus
Asus Laptops are known for their
style, innovation and outstanding build quality. From Ultra Mobile PC’s to Business
Laptops and the must have Asus eee PC – an innovative sub-laptop that comes in at
a budget price range and features all the features you’d expect in a tiny package.
Worth a look.
Back Light
A method of illuminating a laptops
display so it can be seen almost any lighting conditions. Some makers like Panasonic
have extra bright displays that are called daybrite.
Beta Software
Beta versions of software have not
been fully tested and often do not have full functionality. IT Services strongly
advises against the downloading of beta software due to its instability and the
threat it poses to computer system integrity.
Bit (b)
A binary digit. A '1' or a '0'. Represented
in strings of 8 bits. 8 bits is equal to 1 Byte.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth wireless technology is
a short-range (~ 10 - 100 meters) cable replacement technology that allows users
to make wireless and instant connections between various communication devices,
such as laptops, cell phones, printers, camcorders, mice headsets and keyboards,
as well as connect to the Internet. This means you can check e-mail and access the
Internet on your laptop via your mobile phone; share data files with colleagues
at a meeting without using wires; and automatically transfer phone numbers that
are housed in your laptop over to your cell phone. Bluetooth is a complementary
technology to 802.11.
Broadband
Broadband is a term that describes
a network where several data streams can be submitted simultaneously at high speeds.
More recently, broadband has come to describe high-speed data transmission, such
as cable modem, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and DSL (Digital Subscriber
Line).
Broadband Modem
A digital modem used for fast Cable
or DSL Internet service. Usually supplied by an Internet Service Provider.
See Also:
-
Burn
"Burn" is slang for recording data
onto a CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW drive. Laptops that are equipped with CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW
drives allow users to record images, music or video files onto blank discs for playback
or back-up storage.
Byte (B)
One byte contains a series of 8 binary
digits, or 'Bits'. Storage capacity for hard drives, RAM and memory cards are measured
in bytes.
- 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte (1KB)
- 1024 Kilobytes = 1 Gigabyte (1GB)
- 1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte (1TB)
Cache Memory
High-speed memory is located between
the CPU and the main memory. Cache memory is designed to supply the processor with
the most frequently requested data. Storing data here speeds up the operation of
the computer. When an item is requested, the computer first checks the internal
cache (built-on the processor), then the external cache (built-on the motherboard)
and, finally, the hard disk.
CD-R/RW Drive
Translation: Compact Disc Recordable
or Rewritable. A CD-R/RW drive can record data, images or music files onto blank
discs. With recordable discs, files can only be recorded once and cannot be changed.
With rewritable discs, files can be recorded, deleted and re-recorded. Most discs
created with a CD-R/RW drive can be played back on the laptop or on other entertainment
devices such as the CD or DVD player.
See Also:
Centrino
A suit of mobile technologies from
Intel which includes the Pentium-M processor, the Intel 855PM chipset and Intel
Pro wireless chipset, only laptops that use all of these together can use the Centrino
logo. The main advantages over the P4 are a larger L2 cache memory (1MB minimum),
low power speed optimized processor and integrated wireless LAN. These should give
the laptop user better performance, longer battery life and wireless capability
as standard. The low power requirement also means that a Centrino laptop does not
run as hot as a laptop that uses a P4 CPU, which allows Centrino laptops to be lighter
and thinner because they do not need the same amount of cooling equipment in them
to keep them running.
See Also:
Compaq
See Also:
CPU
See Also:
Deeper
Sleep Alert State
Deeper Sleep is an Intel power management
technology. It helps to deliver longer battery life by minimizing the power consumption
of the processor during brief periods of inactivity by the user including microseconds
between keystrokes.
Dial Up Modem
A modem (short for "Modulator - Demodulator"
) is a device that allows a computer to send and recieve data over a telephone line
for connecting to other computers and systems like the internet. The speed that
data can be transmitted is from as low as 4.8kbps to 56kbps. Nearly all new laptops
and many used laptops have a modem built in with a standard maximum speed capability
of 56kbps.
See Also:
Display
The device which you use to view
information on the laptop in the same way as you would on a desktop PC's CRT glass
tube monitor. All laptop displays are LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). All new laptops
use TFT or active displays, these are faster and brighter than the older Dual Scan
displays of a few years ago. The size if the display is measured diagonally from
corner to corner and not straight across the display, and currently vary from 8.9"
on ultra portables to 17" on desktop replacement laptops.
Display Resolution
A measure of how detailed an image
can look, it is measured in pixels or dots a typical example is 1024 x 768 which
is also known as XGA. The following is a list of resolutions found on the traditional
displays and also the newer widescreen displays, currently the highest resolutions
are not available in laptops.
Docking Station
A docking station is the base that
laptop PCs can be plugged into when at a fixed location. Many consumers leave the
docking station at home, in the office or in the dorm and slip the laptop PC into
the docking station when they finish traveling. This allows users to attach their
laptop to a full size keyboard, external mouse, a large monitor, and other peripherals.
DVD-R/RW Drive
DVD stands for "Digital Versatile
Disc." The recordable and rewritable concept is the same as with a CD-R/RW drive,
but in addition to recording photos and music files onto blank discs, DVDR/ RW drives
can also record video or movie files. DVD discs have a greater capacity for storage
than CD discs. There are five different formats available which are listed below.
DVD-R : This was the original recordable DVD format and is the most compatible of
all the DVD formats with DVD ROMs and home DVD players. DVD-R is a WORM (Write Once
Read Many) format DVD that will hold upto 4.7GB of data. It is the cheapest of the
recordable DVD discs to buy but like CDR's you can not erase it or rewrite to it.
DVD-RW : A DVD-RW disc will hold upto 4.7Gb of data, and can be written, erased
and rewritten about 1000 times each. Unfortunately before you can rewrite to a DVD-RW
you must erase the entire disc. Also DVD-RW's are not compatible with some DVD players
and DVD ROM drives. DVD+R : This is the newest WORM (Write Once Read Man
See Also:
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Stands for Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol. DHCP is a simplified means of automatically getting an IP address and
connecting to a network.
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology
Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep™ technology
is supported in both the Mobile Intel® Pentium® III Processor M and the Mobile Intel
Pentium 4 Processor M. The technology is smart enough to know how much performance
you need to run a specific application. When maximum performance is required, the
processor runs at the highest speed. When maximum performance is not needed, the
processor speed and power is reduced. This reduction in power helps to extend battery
life. For the consumer, this means the ability to watch a DVD movie on a long flight
or work for hours on a research paper while sitting in the campus quad.
Ethernet
A common network cabling and signaling
standard used to connect computers to a network. Make sure your computer has a network
interface card supporting 10/100BaseT so you can use Ethernet to get online.
Extensible Markup Language (XML)
A document format that defines areas
and elements of a document so that it can be properly read by a software application,
such as a web browser. More offen referred to as its abbreviation 'XML'.
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free, cross-platform,
graphical web browser developed by the Mozilla Corporation and hundreds of volunteers
The browser began as a fork of the Navigator component of the Mozilla Application
Suite; Firefox has since become the foundation's main development focus (along with
its Thunderbird mail and news client), and has replaced the Mozilla Suite as their
official main software release.
Firewire
See Also:
-
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Pronounced "eff-ay-cue," an FAQ is
compilation of frequent asked questions with corresponding answers.
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Fujitsu Siemens
Fujitsu-Siemens laptops are designed
with you in mind. Mobile, stylish, and high performance. Wherever you go, a Fujitsu-Siemens
laptop matches your pace and meets your needs. Some people struggle to keep up with
technology. With an Fujitsu-Siemens laptop, technology keeps up with you!
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General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
refers to the next generation cellular wireless services. GPRS enables networks
to offer 'always-on', higher capacity Internet-based content and packet based data
services. This enables services such as color Internet browsing, e- mail on the
move, powerful visual communications, multimedia messages and location-based services.
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Gigabyte (GB)
A gigabyte is a measurement of data
storage that equals 1,024 megabytes. Typically used to describe the storage capacity
on a computer's hard drive.
See Also:
-
Gigahertz (GHz)
Abbreviation for gigahertz. Describes
the speed of a computer's processor, the taskmaster of the computer. One gigahertz
equals one billion cycles per second; each computer task requires a certain amount
of cycles to run.
See Also:
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Graphical User Interface (GUI)
An interface that represents data
or commands visually. These can be manipulated using a direct input, such as a computer
mouse, instead of using text only menus or typed commands. Microsoft Windows is
an example of a 'GUI'.
See Also:
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GSM
Groupe Speciale Mobile, Global System
for
Mobile
communications. A 2G global standard for digital cellular communications which was
introduced in 1991. GSM uses a variation of TDMA and is the wireless standard most
commonly found in Europe and
Asia
. US carriers with GSM-based networks include T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless and Cingular.
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Compaq HP (HP)
Enjoy quick and easy access to your
entertainment using HP QuickPlay features. Watch a DVD or TV, listen to music, view
photos or video, play games or watch yourself singing along to your favorite songs
with the Karaoke feature and optional HP Webcam. There’s so much to do, and the
touch of a button on the HP command console or media center remote brings it all
to life. Take your mobile entertainment to the next level with HP QuickPlay.
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Hard drive (HDD)
Also known as a hard disk. The hard
drive is your laptop's "filing cabinet." The computer's hard drive serves as the
main data storage area for the operating system (e.g. Windows XP), programs (e.g.
Microsoft Word) and documents (e.g. your resume).
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Hewlett Packard (HP)
See Also:
Hot Spot
"Hot spots" are locations where consumers
can log onto the Internet via a wireless access point. All that's needed is a Wi-Fi
networking card, which is currently sold as an add-on option with many laptops.
Some laptop PCs sold today come with this capability built right in. Additionally,
many airports, hotels, even coffee bars are now equipped with this technology.
Hot Spot Operator (HSO)
A company that sets up and operates
commercial hot spots in cafes, airports, hotels, train stations, convention centers,
office buildings and other public locations. An HSO typically installs one or more
access points and an access control device along with a high speed Internet connection
to the location. HSOs include Cometa, Wayport, Surf and Sip, Airpath, Pronto, NetNearU,
Deep Blue, Fatport, Gatespeed, Airborne Access, Air Portal, Air2LAN, Ikano, and
Azure, to name a few. In the last year, major wireless carriers have become HSOs,
including T-Mobile (which is building hot spots in Starbucks cafes, Borders book
stores and airline clubs), AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS.
See Also:
IBM Thinkpad
See Also:
IEEE 1394 Connection
IEEE 1394 is a high-speed external
port that is used to connect computer peripherals such as a digital camera to the
laptop. This allows budding cinematographers to quickly and easily transfer their
footage from their digital video camera to the laptop for editing. (IEEE 1394 is
also know as Firewire, iLink*, or simply 1394).
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IEEE 802.11
Wireless Technology IEEE 802.11 replaces
your wired Ethernet connection, using radio waves instead of cables to establish
network between computers or connect to the Internet. 802.11 networks can be setup
within the home so consumers can share files, printers and Internet access from
all rooms in the home, without cables. The same scenario applies for businesses;
employees can have continuous, cable-free access to the network, e- mail and the
Internet, even while moving through the workplace. Currently, IEEE has specified
three wireless LAN standards: 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
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iLink
See Also:
-
Infrared (IR)
Operates in a similar manner to a
TV remote control but allows your laptop to exchange data with other computers or
devices like mobile phones. It has to be used in line of sight of the devices and
has only a short range.
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Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN)
Integrated Service Digital Network
is a standard established by ITU (International Telecommunication Union). enables
digital traffic over existing copper wires. This means that a household can have
two telephone numbers the same connection, and that it is possible to surf the Internet
twice as fast as with an ordinary telephone link-and a 56k modem.
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Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
IMAP is an e-mail retrieval method
that allows you to view and keep your e-mail on the mail server, making it easier
to access e-mail from multiple locations. Compare to POP.
See Also:
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Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Internet Service Provider. A company
that provides Internet access to individual or corporate customers over dial-up,
DSL, cable, satellite, and, increasingly, wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi. Traditional
consumer ISPs include EarthLink, AOL and MSN.
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IP address (IP)
A series of four numbers separated
by periods (e.g. 134.48.1.249) that identify computers on a network including the
internet. DHCP automatically assigns your computer an IP address.
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·
A popular image format used commonly
on the internet. Usually used to compress the file size of images that contain many
colours, such as photographs.
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Kilobit (Kb)
See Also:
-
Kilobyte (KB)
A kilobyte (or 1 KB) represents 1024
bytes.
See Also:
-
Laptop
A laptop (also called notebook PC,
or a mobile PC) is a portable computer that is small enough to be easily transported
so users have the freedom and versatility to work, learn, share, and create anywhere,
at anytime. Laptops are powered by a rechargeable battery and/or a power line that
can be plugged into an electrical wall outlet. Laptops also come with a built- in
flat screen monitor, a keyboard and a modem so users can access the Internet and
other networks.
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Lenovo
Lenovo Laptops, formerly IBM Thinkpads
until IBM sold their PC division, are perfect for everyone from individuals to small
business owners. Industry-leading capabilities dramatically increase productivity
and reduce cost. Lenovo delivers the flexibility you need, the dependability you
can trust at a price you can afford.
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Level 2 (L2)
See Also:
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Li-ion or Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries offer longer
charge times than NiMH batteries and have less tendency to develop the 'memory'
syndrome that can the ability of the battery to hold it charge.
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Local Area Network (LAN)
Short for , a LAN is a group of computers
and associated devices that share a common communications line to share resources,
such as a high-speed link to the Internet and printers. A LAN may also tie computers
to a larger system called a "server" designed to manage resource and connectivity
allocation. A LAN may serve as few as two or three users in a home network, or many
thousand users in a local office network.
MAC address
Stands for Media Access Control address.
It's a string of numbers and letters (e.g. 00-C0-4F-68-89-D6) that uniquely identifies
a network device, such as a network interface card or a wireless network card.
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Megabyte (MB)
A megabyte is a measurement of data
storage. 1,024 megabytes is equal to one gigabyte. A computer's RAM is typically
measured in megabytes.
See Also:
Megahertz (MHz)
Abbreviation for megahertz. Describes
the speed of a computer's processor, the taskmaster of the computer. One gigahertz
equals one million cycles per second; each computer task requires a certain amount
of cycles to run.
See Also:
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Memory
See Also:
-
Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor-M (P4M)
The "M" in Mobile Intel® Pentium®
4 Processor-M indicates that the processor was specifically designed for use in
a laptop. It includes low power technologies -- not included in the desktop version
-- that help extend battery life. When purchasing a laptop, consumers should look
for the "M" for outstanding performance and enhanced battery life for on-the-go
computing.
See Also:
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Also known as an Ethernet card. NICs
are expansion cards that allow a computer to connect to a network. The most common
standard now is the 10/100BaseT which uses an RJ45 type of connector. The lastest
laptops and computers now have 10/100/1000 also known as Gigabit LAN which can transfer
data upto 1000Mbps when connected to another computer with a Gigabit LAN.
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NiMH
Nickle-Metel Hydride, an older and
now cheaper type of battery used in laptops, can suffer from the 'memory' effect
that can shorten the batteries operational life
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Notebook
See Also:
Operating System (OS)
This is the software that allows
you laptop to function , the most common being Microsoft Windows, Linux and the
Apple MAC OS. They include a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that acts as an interpreter
between the user and the machine code language that make the computer function.
See Also:
Optical Drive
A type of storage drive that uses
a laser to read data from a spinning disc which includes CD's, CDR, CDRW, DVD, DVD-RW,
DVD RAM etc. See also
CD-R/RW Drive
and
DVD-R/RW Drive
See Also:
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
An Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) is a manufacturing company developing and manufacturing standardized products
or modules, which are then incorporated into end products using the reseller's brand
name. In this case there is a low degree of customization of the OEM product compared
to an ODM offering. When a customer purchases an OEM product often only a limited
number of changes are made to the product, for example limited to branding or labeling.
Outlook
A Microsoft e-mail/calendar program
for Windows and Macs.
Panasonic
Engineered to meet the demands of
doing business on the road or in the office. Designed using specified testing procedures,
Toughbook laptops are ready for the environmental challenges your mobile PC will
face everyday. Whether it's being dropped, shaken or soaked, the Toughbook - like
our Tough customers - stands up to just about anything you can throw at it.
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PC card (PCMCIA)
A lightweight, removable credit-card
sized module that adds features to a portable computer such as Wireless cards, USB
2.0, Firewire and external CDROMs. PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association (or, more humorously, People Can't Memorize Computer Industry
Acronyms). PCMCIA is a nonprofit trade association founded to standardize the connection
of peripherals to portable computers. Also known as PC card.
Peripherals
A device (usually external to your
computer) such as a printer or scanner.
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Personal Area Network (PAN)
A PAN is how you can wirelessly connect
your personal communication devices together using the Bluetooth Wireless technology.
Devices include your laptop, cell phone, printer, PDA, etc.
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Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
A generic term that describes a small
handheld computer that can serve as an address book, calendar, phone, or email and
Internet access device. Popular PDAs include the Palm Pilot, the HP iPaq and the
RIM Blackberry. PDAs increasingly include Wi-Fi radios which can connect to hot
spots.
7 -
Pixels
The dots that make up the picture
on a computer screen, the more pixels the display has the finer the detail that
can be displayed.
See Also:
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Ports
These are the sockets on the back
of your laptop for connecting to other devices like printers, monitors etc.
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Post Office Protocol (POP)
POP is an e-mail retrieval method
that allows you to download local copies of your e-mail from the mail server to
your computer. Compare with IMAP.
See Also:
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Processor
Also known as the central processing
unit (CPU), the processor is the brain of the computer it's the engine for the software
that tells your computer what to do. The main makers of CPU's are Intel and AMD
The power of a processor is measured by the megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz) number.
The higher the "hertz" number, the faster the processor, though AMD do not use the
clock speed as the true rating of the CPU's speed, they use the name of the processor
i.e Athlon 2400+, Athlon 2600+ etc. to indicate the performance. See also Centrino
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PS/2
A port used to connect either an
external keyboard or mouse to your laptop. It can also be used to power other small
external devices
QWERTY
Used to define a keyboard layout
used by the
UK
. So called because the first six alphabet keys spell out 'QWERTY'.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Pronounced 'ram'. RAM is the memory
available to run computer programs. Upgrading (or increasing) your computer's RAM
can boost computer performance.
Readyboost
ReadyBoost is a disk caching technology
first included with Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. Its purpose is to
give Laptops and Desktop PC’s running the Windows Vista Operating System a performance
gain by using the flash memory on a USB 2.0 drive or digital media card such as
Secure Digital (SD) or CompactFlash (CF) card.
See Also:
Refurbished Laptops
Refurbished Laptops are 'Nearly New',
sometimes just meaning the box has been opened. They represent an excellent value
option as the laptops are generally in prime condition and usually very current
stock. They can cost significantly less then their brand new equivalent and as such
remain a very popular purchase among our customers. Stock is almost always very
limited so get in fast!
Take a look at our range of
Refurbished Laptops
Rip
A slang term to describe the action
of copying media from a data source such as a CD or DVD. The opposite of 'Burn'
which means to put media on to a CD or DVD.
See Also:
RJ-45 cable
Also known as a network cable or
Ethernet cable. Connects your computer's network interface card to another network
device like a hub
Samsung
Samsung Laptops are among the best
on the market for style, quality and performance. Being Samsung, most of the parts
used in the production are Samsungs own – including the displays. Award winning
Laptops from Samsung are the perfect choice for the modern technology enthusiast.
No compromise.
Second generation wireless service (2G)
Implemented in the 1990's and based
on circuit switching, it allows carriers to transmit a call over dedicated radio
channels. 2G was designed primarily for voice transmissions, and as a result, data
transmission over 2G networks is quite slow. 2G includes CDMA, TDMA and GSM.
See Also:
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
A method to securely transmit sensitive
information like credit card data via a web browser. Web sites that use SSL start
with https://
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
A means of sending e-mail from a
e-mail program to a mail server which then relays your message to recipients.
See Also:
Software
Software is the general term for
IT programs that make PCs and other electronic devices function.
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Sony
Thanks to the innovative use of strong
but lightweight materials in its construction and attention to ergonomics in its
design, Sony VAIO Laptops are easy to use at home or at the office and light enough
for working anywhere in-between. All of which means that whatever your demands,
and however you choose to use it, Sony VAIO Laptops can open the doors to a host
of new creative, commercial and recreational possibilities.
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Spindle
A spindle is actually the shaft that
rotates in the middle of a disk drive. Today, laptops are described by the number
of drives and, therefore, spindles they can support. For instance, a three-spindle
laptop PC houses three drives one for the hard disk, one for floppy disks and one
for CD-ROMs and/or DVDs.
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TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol / Internet
Protocol. A set of standards for how computers and other devices communicate with
each other over networks. Developed in the 1970's, TCP/IP allowed computers from
different manufacturers to talk to each other in a common way for the first time,
and it became the foundation of the Internet.
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TFT Display
Thin Film Transistor, TFT or 'active'
displays which they are also know as are the standard technology for displays on
laptops. They offer brighter displays that have wider viewing angles and faster
redrawing speeds than the older passive or dual-scan (DSTN) displays. See also Display
Resolution
See Also:
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Third generation wireless service (3G)
An upgrade from 2G and 2.5G wireless
networks that allows for even greater voice capacity, along with medium-speed data
transmission of 128-384Kbps for moving devices and a theoretical top speed of 2Mbps
for stationary devices. 3G is expensive to implement, as it requires different spectrum
than 2G and 2.5G, and entirely new equipment.
See Also:
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Toshiba
Toshiba Laptops inspire confidence
in their build quality and exceptional components. From the great value performance
of their Satellite range to the multimedia station Qosmio Toshiba deliver quality
in droves. Toshiba Laptops rank among the most popular laptops in the world.
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Touch Pad Mouse
Small rectangle located in front
of a laptop's keyboard that allows you to glide your fingertip over the surface
to control your mouse pointer/cursor.
See Also:
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Toughbook
See Also:
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Trackstick
Tiny, foam/rubber- like mouse device
embedded in the center of a keyboard (looks like an eraser on the top of a pencil)
that you move with your finger to control the position of the mouse/cursor.
See Also:
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Trojan
A Trojan is a computer program that
is hidden in a useful software application and actually used to gain access to your
computer. It then performs malicious actions such as displaying messages or erasing
files. Trojans may be found in a hacked legitimate program or in free software .
See Also:
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Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
Web addresses that identify resources
on the World Wide Web.
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Universal Serial Bus (USB)
The Universal Serial Bus, or USB,
is the standardized high-speed connection technology for most PC peripherals today.
The USB allows the use of one common connector to link various types of products
(such as digital cameras, audio players and PDAs) into one plug. Most laptop PCs
come with two USB connections.
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VAIO
Sony Laptops. Abbreviation of Video
Audio Input Output.
See our range of
Sony VAIO Laptops
See Also:
Video chipset
This is the specialized electronics
that control the display on a laptop. Many laptops uses chipsets that are integrated
into the main chipset of the laptop and share part of the main memory. This helps
the makers to keep the costs of the laptops down but is does mean that there is
performance trade off and these integrated graphics are slower than dedicated video
controllers. If you want to play games or have other high performance graphic needs
then look for laptops with a dedicated video chipset and separate Video memory also
know as VRAM. The current front runners in high performance graphics chipsets are
the ATi Mobility Radeon 9000, 9200 and 9600 and nVidia Geforce FX Go5200, 5600 and
5700 both of which can have upto 128Mb of VRAM.
Video RAM (VRAM)
This is the memory that the laptop
uses to control the display. The more memory the laptop has the higher the resolution
and more colours can be viewed on the display at the same time.
Virus
A computer program that is usually
malicious. Often self-replicating and harmful to your computer. A virus is more
often contracted through email or webpages. Anti-Virus software can be installed
to help protect your computer.
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Web Camera (Webcam)
A low resolution video camera more
often used for Video Calls over client software such as Microsoft Messenger, Skype
or other Instant Messaging solutions. Also used to monitor locations and provide
frequently updated images over the internet automatically. In a laptop a web camera
is usually integrated above the display screen.
Wi-Fi
A contraction of "Wireless Fidelity".
A global technical standard for wireless LANs with a typical range of 100-500 feet.
Anyone can set up a low-cost Wi-Fi network and cover a home, an office or a public
space with high speed wireless Internet access that is more than 100 times faster
than a typical dial-up modem connection. Unlike other wireless technologies such
as CDMA and GSM, Wi-Fi enjoys 100% global acceptance. It is becoming known as a
single wireless networking standard for all developers, equipment manufacturers,
service providers and users, any innovation in Wi-Fi benefits everyone else in the
Wi-Fi community. Hundreds of manufacturers produce and distribute Wi-Fi radios and
access points. The single Wi-Fi standard ensures these devices all interoperate
with each other, so, for example, an access point made by Proxim will communicate
with a network card from Linksys. The term "Wi-Fi" covers many wireless standards
established by the
Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), an inte
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Wi-Fi radio
A set of computer chips and an antenna
that can send and receive Wi-Fi transmissions from a laptop, PDA, cell phone, access
point, or other wireless device. A Wi-Fi PC Card contains a Wi-Fi radio that can
be used by a laptop computer. Wi-Fi access points also contain one or more Wi-Fi
radios. Through competition, Wi-Fi radios are becoming very inexpensive and will
soon be built into laptops, consumer electronics devices and even cars. Wi-Fi radio
manufacturers include Intersil, Intel, Atheros,
Broadcom, Texas
Instruments and Agere.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Short for a wide area network, a
WAN is a large network in which computers are connected to each other over a long
distance, using telephone lines and satellite communications. For example, a global
company could have a WAN network to connect all of the offices in the different
cities and countries, while each office individual office operates from its own
LAN.
Windows
Vista
The latest Operating System from
Microsoft. It features many advancements on Windows XP including an all new user
interface called 'Aero'. Windows Vista is supplied in a number of different options.
Windows Vista Home Basic features many of the new security benefits but does not
provide a
Media Center
or the new 'Aero' interface. Windows Vista Home Premium has all the features of
Home Basic but includes media center and 'Aero'. Also available are Windows Vista
Business and Ultimate. For a complete feature list please refer to the Microsoft
website - Windows Vista, choose an edition.
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Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
is a set of standardised communications rules used to allow mobile appliances such
as mobile telephones to access special Web sites and e-mail. WAP also enables Internet
access and a range of different services from a mobile telephone.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
A wireless network connecting two
or more computers or other devices over a short distance of 100 to 500 feet, as
within an office, a home or a hot spot. Wi-Fi is the dominant WLAN standard.
See Also:
Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN)
A wireless network that covers a
broad area such as an entire city. WWANs operated by major wireless carriers provide
voice and relatively low-bandwidth data service over a broad area, require hundreds
of communications towers and special spectrum licenses from the government and cost
hundreds of millions or billions of dollars to establish and maintain.
Worm
A special type of virus that can
replicate itself and use your computer's memory, but it cannot attach itself to
other programs.
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XML
See Also:
ZIP File (.ZIP)
A file type that takes single or
multiple files and compresses their file size down for easier and quicker transfer.
Often used for archival purposes.
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