Designed for
`
`”E _ EULTIMATE COMPUTER REFERENCE
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`"-1
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`a
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`M i 0 r0 5 oLt ”
`Windows NT3
`Windows'98
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`I: ‘1 _ "L 4.,
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`a}: - Three new appendixes, including Y2K, file
`extension, and Internet domains
`.- - Searchabletext on CD-ROM
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`Extenswe’coverage of hardware, software, the
`’ Internet "and more!
`’7-'¥i'°3- Detailed illustrations and diagrams for easy reference
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`PUBLISHED BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Microsoft Way
`Redmond, Washington 98052—6399
`
`Copyright © 1999 by Microsoft Corporation
`All rights reserved. No p
`art of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in
`n ol' the publisher.
`or by any means without the written permissio
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`any form
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Microsoft Computer Dictionary. -- 4th ed.
`p. cm.
`Previous eds. published under title: Microsoft Press computer
`dictionary
`ISBN 0-7356—0615-3
`2. Microcomputers Dictionaries.
`1. Computers Dictionaries.
`1. Microsoft Press computer dictionary.
`QA76.15.M538
`1999
`004‘.O3—-d021
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`99—20168CIP
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`Printed and bound in the United States of America.
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`123456789 MLML 432109
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`able through booksellers and distributors worldwide. For further information
`Microsoft Press hooks are avail
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`is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Active Desktop. Active Directory. AetiveMovie. Active Platform. Activex,
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`Windows NT, and XENIX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
`United States andi’or other countries. PANTONE is a registered trademark ol‘ Pantone. lac. Other product and
`company names mentioned herein may he the trademarks of their respective owners.
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`The example companies. organizations, products, people,
`tion with any real company. organization, product, person, or e
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`and events depicted herein are fictitious. No associa-
`vent is intended or should be inferred.
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`

`brightness
`
`browser
`
`the original computer, the Briefcase updates all files
`to the most recent version.
`
`brightness n. The perceived quality of radiance or
`luminosity of a visible object. Brightness is literally
`in the eye (and mind) of the beholder; a candle in
`the night appears brighter than the same candle un-
`der incandescent lights. Although its subjective
`value cannot be measured with physical instru-
`ments, brightness can be measured as luminance
`(radiant energy). The brightness component of a
`color is different from its color (the hue) and from
`the intensity of its color (the saturation). See also
`color model, HSB.
`
`British Navel Connector n. See BNC.
`
`broadband adj. Of or relating to communications
`systems in which the medium of transmission (such
`as a wire or fiber-optic cable) carries multiple mes-
`sages at a time, each message modulated on its own
`carrier frequency by means of modems. Broadband
`communication is found in wide area networks.
`
`Compare baseband.
`broadband ISDN n. Next—generation ISDN based on
`ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technology.
`Broadband ISDN divides information into two cat-
`
`egories: interactive services, which are controlled by
`the user, and distributed (or distribution) services that
`can be broadcast to the user. Acronym: BISDN. See
`also ISDN, ATM (definition 1).
`
`broadband modem n. A modem for use on a broad—
`band network. Broadband technology allows several
`networks to coexist on a single cable. Traffic from
`one network does not interfere with traffic from an-
`other, since the conversations happen on different
`frequencies, rather like the commercial radio system.
`See also broadband network.
`
`broadband network n. A local area network on
`which transmissions travel as radio—frequency signals
`over separate inbound and outbound channels. Sta-
`tions on a broadband network are connected by co-
`axial or fiber—optic cable, which can carry data,
`voice, and video simultaneously over multiple trans-
`mission channels that are distinguished by frequency.
`A broadband network is capable of high—speed opera—
`tion (20 megabits or more), but it is more expensive
`than a baseband network and can be difficult to in—
`
`stall. Such a network is based on the same technol-
`
`ogy used by cable television (CATV). Also called
`wideband transmission. Compare baseband network.
`
`broadcast‘ adj. Sent to more than one recipient. In
`cormnunications and on networks, a broadcast mes-
`
`sage is one distributed to all stations. See also e-mail'
`(definition 1).
`broadcastz n. As in radio or television, a transmission
`sent to more than one recipient.
`broadcast storm n. A network broadcast that causes
`
`multiple hosts to respond simultaneously, overload-
`ing the network. A broadcast storm may occur when
`old TCP/IP routers are mixed with routers that sup-
`
`port a new protocol. See also communications proto-
`col, router, TCP/IP.
`
`broken as designed adj. See BAD.
`
`Brouter n. See bridge router.
`brownout n. A condition in which the electricity level
`
`is appreciably reduced for a sustained period of time.
`In contrast to a blackout, or total loss of power, a
`brownout continues the flow of electricity to all de—
`vices connected to electrical outlets, although at
`lower levels than the normally supplied levels (120
`volts in the United States). A brownout can be ex-
`tremely damaging to sensitive electronic devices,
`such as computers, because the reduced and often
`fluctuating voltage levels can cause components to
`operate for extended periods of time outside the
`range they were designed to work in. On a computer,
`a brownout is characterized by a smaller, dimer,
`and somewhat fluctuating display area on the moni-
`tor and potentially erratic behavior by the system
`unit. The only reliable means of preventing damage
`caused by a brownout condition is to use a battery—
`backed uninterruptible power supply (UPS). See also
`UPS. Compare blackout.
`browse vb. To scan a database, a list of files, or the
`Internet, either for a particular item or for anything
`that seems to be of interest. Generally, browsing im-
`plies observing, rather than changing, information. In
`unauthorized computer hacking, browsing is a (pre—
`sumably) nondestructive means of finding out about
`an unknown computer after illegally gaining entry.
`browser n. See Web browser.
`
`62
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`
`
`legislation
`through
`0 fair use,
`
`on Object
`ation devel-
`in 1992 in
`ununicate
`an if the two
`imming lan-
`tforms. A Pro'
`
`ugh an object
`not need to
`n where the
`work in object-
`; (definition 2),
`ented.
`
`ilt into comput-
`AM) was avail-
`ise the term to
`
`puter system, as
`the raw con-
`of a system
`
`1m segment that
`1 (RAM).
`condition in
`dad in memOYY
`
`ire though WhiCh
`air and transfer a
`photosensitive
`
`army at the same
`inclirrently Willi.
`
`:cess of diagnosmg
`: after they occur-
`
`nt qualitY-
`lata in memory or
`5 meaning
`d, with it
`
`,“cfits “3'
`aarison of hr.
`011.
`Cost-honefit
`cars 10
`is dcrfll'l'“
`
`hiring more staff is necessary. See also IS, MIS.
`coulomb \ko‘o’lom, kooiom \ n. A unit of electrical
`charge equivalent to roughly 6.26 x 1013 electrons,
`with a negative charge being an excess of electrons
`and a positive charge being a deficiency of electrons.
`
`counter n. 1. In programming, a variable used to keep
`count of something. 2. In electronics, a circuit that
`counts a specified number of pulses before generat-
`ing an output. 3. A device that keeps track of the
`number of visitors to a World Wide Web site.
`
`counting loop n. In a program, a group of statements
`that are repeated, thereby incrementing a variable
`used as a counter (for example, a program might re-
`peat a counting loop that adds 1 to its counter until
`the counter equals 10). See also loop1 (definition 1).
`
`country code n. See major geographic domain.
`
`country-specific adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteris-
`tic of hardware or software that uses characters or
`conventions unique to a particular country or group
`of countries. Country-specific does not necessarily
`refer to spoken languages, although it does allow for
`special characters (such as accent marks) that are
`language-specific. Generally, the features considered
`country—specific include keyboard layout (including
`special-character keys), time and date conventions,
`financial and monetary symbols, decimal notation
`(decimal point or comma), and alphabetic sorting
`order. Such features are handled either by a
`computer’s operating system (for example, by the
`Keyboard and Country commands in MS-DOS) or by
`application programs that offer options for tailoring
`documents to a particular set of national or intema—
`tional conventions.
`
`courseware 71. Software dedicated to education or
`training.
`
`Courtesy copy n. See cc.
`
`CPA 11. See Computer Press Association.
`cpl n. See characters per inch.
`CF‘VM u. Acronym for Control Program!Monitor. A
`Igor: of operaii
`11g systems from Digital Research. Inc.
`1‘: “lacrocomputers based on [trial microprocessors.
`u t:
`Irsl system. CHM—80, was the 111031 popular
`cgfnmmg System for 8080— and ZSO-based micro-
`36 (5:135. Digital Research also developed CP/M-
`86/8088-based computers, CP/M-Z8000 for
`
`and MS-DOS were introduced, common use of CPM
`by end users dwindled. DRI continues to enhance the
`CPM line, supporting multitasking with the Concur-
`rent CP/M and MP/M products. See also MP/M.
`
`CPM n. See critical path method.
`
`cps 71. See characters per second.
`
`CPSR n. Acronym for Computer Professionals for
`Social Responsibility. A public advocacy organiza—
`tion of computer professionals. CPSR was originally
`formed out of concern over the use of computer tech—
`nology for military purposes but has extended its
`interest to such issues as civil liberties and the effect
`
`of computers on workers.
`
`CPU n. Acronym for central processing unit. The
`computational and control unit of a computer. The
`CPU is the device that interprets and executes in—
`structions. Mainframes and early minicomputers con-
`tained circuit boards full of integrated circuits that
`implemented the CPU. Single-chip central process-
`ing units, called microprocessors, made possible per-
`sonal computers and workstations. Examples of
`single-chip CPUs are the Motorola 68000, 68020,
`and 68030 chips and the Intel 8080, 8086, 80286,
`80386, and i486 chips. The CPU+or microproces-
`sor, in the case of a microcomputer—has the ability
`to fetch, decode, and execute instructions and to
`transfer information to and from other resources over
`
`the computer’s main data-transfer path, the bus. By
`definition, the CPU is the chip that functions as the
`“brain” of a computer. In some instances, however,
`the term encompasses both the processor and the
`computer’s memory or, even more broadly, the main
`computer console (as opposed to peripheral equip-
`ment). See the illustration. See also microprocessor.
`
`CPU
`
`CPU.
`
`115
`
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`

`

`double-sided (standard) disk can hold 800 KB; and a
`double-sided high-density disk can hold 1.44 mega-
`bytes (MB). On IBM and compatible machines, a
`microfloppy can hold either 720 KB or 1.44 MB of
`information. See also floppy disk.
`microform n. The medium, such as microfilm or mi-
`crofiche, on which a photographically reduced im—
`age, called a microimage, is stored. A microimage
`usually represents text, such as archived documents.
`See also microfiche, microfilm.
`
`micrographics n. The techniques and methods for
`recording data on microfilm. See also microform.
`
`microimage n. A photographically reduced image,
`usually stored on microfilm or microfiche, that is too
`small to be read without magnification. See also mi-
`croform, micrographics.
`
`microinstruction n. An instruction that is part of the
`microcode. See also microcode.
`
`microjustif'lcation )1. See microspace justification.
`
`microkernel n. 1. In programming, the strictly
`hardware-dependent part of an operating system that
`is intended to be portable from one type of computer
`to another. The microkernel provides a hardware—
`independent interface to the rest of the operating sys-
`tem, so only the microkemel needs to be rewritten to
`port the operating system to a different platform. See
`also kernel, operating system. 2. A kernel that has
`been designed with only the basic features and typi-
`cally in a modular fashion.
`
`micrologic n. A set of instructions, stored in binary
`form, or a set of electronic logic circuits that defines
`and governs the operation within a microprocessor.
`microminiature n. An extremely small circuit or
`other electronic component, especially one that is a
`refinement of an already miniaturized element.
`
`microphone n. 1. A device that converts sound waves
`into analog electrical signals. Additional hardware
`can convert the microphone’s output into digital data
`that a computer can process; for example, to record
`multimedia documents or analyze the 'sound signal.
`2. A communications program that runs on the
`Macintosh computer.
`
`microprocessor n. A central processing unit (CPU)
`on a single chip. A modern microprocessor can have
`
`microprogramming n. The writing of microcode fer
`a processor. Some systems, chiefly minicomputers
`and mainframes, allow modification of microcode for
`an installed processor. See also microcode.
`
`microsecond n. Abbreviated us. One millionth (10*)
`of a second.
`
`Microsoft DOS n. See MS-DOS.
`
`Microsoft Foundation Classes n. A C++ class library
`developed by Microsoft. The Microsoft Foundation
`Class library, or MFC, provides the framework and
`classes that make it easier and faster for program-
`mers to build Windows applications. MFC supports
`ActiveX and is bundled with several C++ compilers,
`including Microsoft Visual C++, Borland C++, and
`Symantec C++. Acronym: MFC. See also ActiveX,
`C++. Compare Application Foundation Classes.
`
`Microsoft Internet Explorer n. See Internet Explorer.
`Microsoft Network n. See MSN.
`
`Microsoft Windows n. See Windows.
`
`Microsoft Windows 2000 n. See Windows 2000.
`
`hand. Microprocessors are at Illc hctu't I_d':-I|l pol-301m
`computers. When titeatim'y and power are added [0 a
`microprocessor. all the pieces. excluding Ptripllerah
`required for :1 computer are present. The most Flip“:
`iar lines 01' micmproccssot's today are the 680m film.
`ily from Motorola. which powers Ilic Apple Macintosh
`line. and the 80x86 family from lutci. which is :11th
`core of all IBM PC—compatible computers. See also
`6502, 65816, 6800, 68000, 68020, 68030, 68040,
`80286, 80386DX, 80386SX, 8080, 8086, 8088,
`88000, DECchip 21064, i486DX, i486DX2, i486SL,
`i486SX, Pentium, PowerPC, SPARC, Z80.
`
`
`
`Microsoft Windows 95 n. See Windows 95.
`
`Microsoft Windows 98 n. See Windows 98.
`
`Microsoft Windows CE n. See Windows CE.
`
`lVficrosoft Windows NT n. See Windows NT.
`
`microspace justification n. The addition of thin
`spaces between characters within words to fill out a
`line for justification, instead of relying only on add-
`ing space between words. Good microspace justifica-
`tion gives justified text a more polished, professional
`look; excessive microspace justification causes words
`to lose visual coherence. Also called microjustifica-
`tion. See also justify (definition 2), microspacing.
`
`APPL-1012 / Page 7 of 9
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`II IIIII
`III
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`LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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`II II
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`II
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`00101180104
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`uranium-1m :olllllmml
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`pronuncration eys or i icut
`words, arts ofs eech, and
`
`.9
`_"
`extenSIve cross references.
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`The Comprehenslve
`-
`Standard for Business,
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`School, lerary, and Home
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`MICROSOFT COMPUTER DICTIONARY, Fourth
`Edition, remains the authoritative source
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`
`concepts, and acronyms. Written in a
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`
`Fourth Edition defines over 8,000 terms
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`the latest technologies you will
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`including Y2K, networks, e—commerce,
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`cyberculture, enterprise computing,
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`component terminology, Windows® 98,
`and UNIX. As an added bonus, the
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`dictionary extensively covers computer
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`often the most confusing terms in the
`high-tech world.
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`Wlndws’QS
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