This is just my definition of different terms. I've tried to explain it in a simple way so even people who have no idea what they mean will now understand.
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RAM - Also known as 'Random Access Memory' and measured using Mega Bytes (MB) and Giga Bytes (GB). RAM is a sort of temporary memory - the more you have the faster the program you're working on runs.
Another way of picturing this is with a simple Desk - yes that's right, a desk. The 'RAM' of this desk is how big the top surface area is and thus how much stuff can you place and use on it at the same time without getting yourself into a mess and slowing down.
HDD - The data storage unit of the computer. Measured in GBs, the more you have the more you can hold on your PC.
If we return to the desk example the HDD would be the drawers of the desk. How much can it hold even when not in use.
CPU - 'Central Processing Unit' or informally just the processor. This is how fast your computer will run generally and is measured using speed of Mega Hertz (MHz).
In our desk example the CPU is...YOU! Yes the CPU is how fast you can work. E.g. Opening and closing the drawers, fetching work from one side of the desk to another etc.
CD-ROM - 'Compact Desk-Read Only Memory' is simply put, 'thing thing that reads CDs'. Most programs are installed via CD and it is the CD-ROM that reads the data or datum.
It is hard to make a comparison to our desk example in this case, but if you image yourself putting a pen in the drawer (like putting a CD into the CD-ROM) then I guess the drawer is the CD-ROM...This example really doesn't work .
USB - 'Universal Serial Bus' is a connection used to connect computers and systems to other devices (peripherals).
A simple example for this is adding (plugging-in) a tray to your desk to hold your keyboard or documents.
Motherboard - Basically 'holds everything together'. Components of your PC are attached to this.
The equivalent of the motherboard in my example is the wood that the desk is made from.
Floppy Disk Drive - Rarely used today thanks to CDs and Flashdrives (USB memory sticks) which are able to hold loads more data. They are able to read smaller files found on floppy disks.
Email - A simple way to send electronic mail over the internet.
Ethernet - Standard connection from computer to a network that allows access to the internet.
WWW - 'World Wide Web' commonly refered to as 'the internet'.
ISP - A company that you pay to receive access to the internet.
IP (Address) - A unique code that all computers use, either public or private, over the internet.
LAN - 'Local Area Network' is a group of computers connected together usually in relative short range.
Modem - A device allowing connection from a computer to a phone line.
Byte - A basic unit of measurement for pieces of information. Be careful not to get confused with a 'bit'.
KB - A thousand (kilo) bytes. However, technically speaking, it is 1,024 bytes
MG - A million (mega) bytes.
GB - A billion (giga) bytes.
TB - A trillion (tera) bytes.
PB - A thousand tera (peta) bytes or a quadrillion bytes.
Anti-virus - Software that when installed helps to secure a computer against different types of viruses such as trojans and malware.
Some well known antiviruses include: Norton, AVG and McAfee
CSS - A short term for 'Cascading Style Sheets'. Alone CSS does nothing, however integrated internally or externally with a HTML page, CSS can make all sorts of web designs.
PHP - A 'server side' scripting language for adding more dynamic and interactive content to a webpage.
BB/BBS - A 'BB' or 'BBS' is a bulletin board (software). Essentially, it is another name for a forum.
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Last Updated: 03-Aug-2008
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Please post if you have any more definitions you want me to add or any more words you want me to add and describe my way.
**Hope you liked **