Compaq Presario 1200 series User Manual page 145

main memory Physical memory chips
(RAM) inside the computer. Every pro-
gramme you launch and every file you
open must be copied from a storage disk,
disc, or diskette into main memory. The
amount of main memory in your computer
determines how many programmes you
can run and how much data you can proc-
ess at one time. Memory is measured in
megabytes (1 million bytes or characters)
of information. Most personal computers
come with a minimum of 32 megabytes of
main memory—the minimum recommen-
dation for Windows programmes. You can
insert extra memory (visit the following
website for more information
www.compaq.com/my presario).
See RAM. See also byte.
microprocessor A silicon chip inside
your computer that processes the
instructions and data from input devices
(such as the keyboard and mouse) and
communicates them to output devices
(such as the monitor, speakers,
Microsoft Internet Explorer A Web
browser developed by the Microsoft
Corporation. See browser.
Microsoft Windows The most popular
computer operating system in the world. It
is characterised by the use of windows and
icons. Each running programme and open
file has its own window. Instead of
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LOSSARY
M
memorising commands, you click icons to
communicate with the computer. Clicking
the minimise button shrinks a programme
to an icon on the taskbar. Clicking the icon
redisplays the programme as a window.
You can have several windows open at the
same time and toggle from one to another
by using Alt+Tab. (Press and hold down
the Alt key, press the Tab key, and then
release both keys. A palette with an icon
for each programme is displayed. Click the
icon for the programme you want.)
MIDI (musical
interface)
(pronounced middy).
An interface that allows the computer to
record sounds created by a synthesiser and
then manipulate the data to produce new
sounds, such as changing the key of a
composition. See interface.
See also digital.
MIDI connector A connector on the
back of the computer for plugging in a
synthesiser keyboard.
MIDI format A file format used to
store electronic music sounds. It can be
identified by the file extension .mid.
A sound card that supports MIDI files
allows the computer to generate the
synthesised musical sounds found in
games, CD-ROMs, and presentation
packages.
minimise To shrink a running programme
window into an icon on the Windows
taskbar. Click the icon to restore the
programme window.
See Microsoft Windows.
P
RESARIO
instrument digital
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OTEBOOK EYOND ET UP
1200 S
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