Dell Latitude D400 User Manual page 251

FILE LOCATION: S:\SYSTEMS\Pebble\UG\A00\English\glossary.fm
U
UPS — uninterruptible power supply — A backup power source used when the
electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level. A UPS keeps a
computer running for a limited amount of time when there is no electrical power.
UPS systems typically provide surge suppression and may also provide voltage
regulation. Small UPS systems provide battery power for a few minutes to enable
you to shut down your computer.
USB — universal serial bus — A hardware interface for a low-speed device such as
a USB-compatible keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner, set of speakers, printer,
broadband devices (DSL and cable modems), imaging devices, or storage devices.
Devices are plugged directly in to a 4-pin socket on your computer or into a multi-
port hub that plugs in to your computer. USB devices can be connected and
disconnected while the computer is turned on, and they can also be daisy-chained
together.
UTP — unshielded twisted pair — Describes a type of cable used in most
telephone networks and some computer networks. Pairs of unshielded wires are
twisted to protect against electromagnetic interference, rather than relying on a
metal sheath around each pair of wires to protect against interference.
UXGA — ultra extended graphics array — A video standard for video cards and
controllers that supports resolutions up to 1600 x 1200.
V
— The circuitry on a video card or on the system board (in
V I D E O C O N T R O L L E R
computers with an integrated video controller) that provides the video capabilities—
in combination with the monitor—for your computer.
— Memory that consists of memory chips dedicated to video
V I D E O M E M O R Y
functions. Video memory is usually faster than system memory. The amount of video
memory installed primarily influences the number of colors that a program can
display.
— A mode that describes how text and graphics are displayed on a
V I D E O M O D E
monitor. Graphics-based software, such as Windows operating systems, displays in
video modes that can be defined as x horizontal pixels by y vertical pixels by z colors.
Character-based software, such as text editors, displays in video modes that can be
defined as x columns by y rows of characters.
— See resolution.
V I D E O R E S O L U T I O N
— A program that is designed to inconvenience you or to destroy data
V I R U S
stored on your computer. A virus program moves from one computer to another
through an infected disk, software downloaded from the Internet, or e-mail
attachments. When an infected program starts, its embedded virus also starts.
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Glossar y