Toshiba Equium P300 - Manual (Page 186)

User’s Manual Glossary-6
Glossary
CPU: Central Processing Unit. The portion of the computer that interprets
and executes instructions.
CRT: Cathode Ray Tube. A vacuum tube in which beams projected on a
fluorescent screen-producing luminous spots. An example is the
television set.
cursor: A small, blinking rectangle or line that indicates the current
position on the display screen.
D
data bits: A data communications parameter controlling the number of
bits (binary digits) used to make up a byte. If data bits = 7 the
computer can generate 128 unique characters. If data bits = 8 the
computer can generate 256 unique characters.
data: Information that is factual, measurable or statistical that a computer
can process, store, or retrieve.
DC: Direct Current. Electric current that flows in one direction. This type of
power is usually supplied by batteries.
default: The parameter value automatically selected by the system when
you or the program do not provide instructions. Also called a
preset value.
delete: To remove data from a disk or other data storage device.
Synonymous with erase.
device driver: A program (called a "driver") that permits a computer to
communicate with a device.
dialog box: A window that accepts user input to make system settings or
record other information.
disable: To turn a computer option off. See also enable.
disk drive: The device that randomly accesses information on a disk and
copies it to the computer's memory. It also writes data from
memory to the disk. To accomplish these tasks, the unit physically
rotates the disk at high speed past a read-write head.
disk storage: Storing data on magnetic disk. Data is arranged on
concentric tracks much like a phonograph record.
display: A CRT, LCD, or other image producing device used to view
computer output.