Desktop Terms You Need To Know

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O - T

Bluetooth — Bluetooth® is short-range wireless technology designed to connect technology devices, like computers, keyboards and mice, mobile phones and headsets, printers, digital cameras, PDAs and other mobile devices, without the clutter of cables.
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Firewire — FireWire (or IEEE 1394) is a type of data transfer that is primarily used to capture video from digital camcorders or to connect external hard drives. Devices with FireWire output can transfer footage directly to a PC with a compatible cable.
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Floppy Drives — Floppy drives provide an easy way to transfer and store small amounts of data or create boot disks and diagnostic disks. Long a fixture of personal computing, floppy drives record up to 1.44 MB of data on a rugged 3.5" removable magnetic diskette.
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Graphics Card — Images, video and games all depend on graphics technology. In fact, everything you see on your desktops display is driven by graphics technology. Together with your display, your graphics solution determines the quality of what you see on your desktops.
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Hard Drive — The hard drive is the primary storage unit of the computer. It is where the operating system, applications, files and data are kept. Hard drive space is typically measured in Gigabytes (GB) or storage; the larger the number, the more programs, games and data you can use on your computer.
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Keyboard — An assemblage of systematically arranged keys by which a machine or device is operated.
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Memory(RAM) — "Random Access Memory" (RAM) – commonly known as memory – is the temporary storehouse for the data flowing to and from your PC's processor. All else being equal, a system with more memory can:
Deliver faster performance
Handle more open files at once
Open larger files
Work with more open software programs at once
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Modem — Modems use phone lines for sending and receiving email and establishing Internet connections, whether on the road or at home.
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Monitors — The high-resolution TV-like device that displays computer output.
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Mouse — A pointing device that controls the movement of the cursor on your screen. Typically you roll the mouse over a hard, flat surface to move the pointer or cursor on your screen.
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Operating System — The operating system (OS) is one of the most important components of your computer. It performs basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the monitor, keeping track of files and directories on the hard disk and controlling devices such as optical drives and printers. Operating systems also manage how your computer accesses available networks.
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Optical Drive — A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs, DVDs, or DVD+RWs. Example of optical drives include CD drives, DVD drives, CD-RW drives, DVD+/-RW, and CD-RW/DVD combo drives.
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Processor — The processor is the brain of a computer. It is also called the central processing unit (CPU), is one of the most important component in your PC. It processes the critical information and instructions that make your PC perform.
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Security Software — Secuity Software helps prevent viruses, remove spyware, block hackers and safeguard your personal information.
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Sound Card — Adding a sound card option can add even more depth and realism to your entertainment experience. Movies and games come alive with options that support Dolby Digital 5.1
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Speakers — Speakers can provide quality sound that is good for background listening or gaming.
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TV Tuner — With a TV Tuner in your system you can watch, pause, record and replay live TV across multiple channels.
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