Operating instructions

full-duplex Describes any device that can send and receive data simulta
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neously.
function key A keyboard key that gives an instruction to a computer, as
opposed to keys that produce letters, numbers, marks of punctuation, etc.
fuser assembly A mechanism, found in laser printers, that uses two rollers to
fuse toner to paper during the print process.
gateway The technical meaning is a hardware or software setup that trans
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lates between two dissimilar protocols. For example, Prodigy has a gateway that
translates between its internal, proprietary e-mail format and Internet e-mail
format. Another, less technical meaning of gateway is any mechanism for pro
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viding access to another system (e.g., AOL might be called a gateway to the
Internet). See also default gateway.
general-purpose registers The registers that handle the most common CPU
calculations. See also register.
giga- The prefix for the quantity 1,073,741,824 or for 1 billion. One gigabyte
would be 1,073,741,824 bytes, except for with hard drive labeling, where it
means 1 billion bytes. One gigahertz is 1 billion hertz.
gigabyte 1024 megabytes.
green PC A computer system designed to operate in an energy-efficient
manner.
guest Very limited built-in account type for Windows.
GUI (graphical user interface) An interface is the method by which a com
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puter and a user interact. Early interfaces were text-based; that is, the user
“talked” to the computer by typing and the computer responded with text on a
CRT. A GUI (pronounced “gooey”), on the other hand, enables the user to in
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teract with the computer graphically, by manipulating icons that represent pro
-
grams or documents with a mouse or other pointing device.
HAL (hardware abstraction layer) A part of the Windows OS that separates
system-specific device drivers from the rest of the NT system.
half-duplex Any device that at any given moment can either send or receive
data, but not both. Most Ethernet transmissions are half-duplex.
GLOSSARY 31
Passport / Mike Meyers‘ A+ Certification Passport / Meyers / 226308-3 / Glossary
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