Toshiba Satellite 4030CDT User Manual page 225

CD (Compact Disc): Audio format in which sound is digitally encoded
on a 12 cm disc. An optical laser encodes and decodes the digital
data to produce exceptionally pure sound.
CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory): A high-capacity stor
age medium that uses laser optics instead of magnetic means for
reading data. The computer can read data from these discs, but
cannot write data to the discs.
central processing unit (CPU): The chips where all the computing
takes place. The CPU is often referred to as the "brain" of the
computer. It takes information from outside sources, such as mem
ory or keyboard input, processes the information and sends the
results to another device that uses the information.
Centronics: The printer manufacturer whose method of data transmis
sion between a parallel printer and a computer has become an
industry standard.
character: Any letter, number or symbol you can use on the computer.
Some characters are non-printing characters, such as a paragraph
break in a word-processing program. A character occupies one
byte of computer storage.
chip: A small piece of silicon containing computer logic and circuits
for processing, memory, input/output and/or control functions.
Chips are mounted on printed circuit boards.
choose: To use the pointing device or keyboard to select a menu item, a
button or an icon.
click: To press and release a mouse button or AccuPoint button. In
Windows, refers to the left mouse button or primary AccuPoint
button, unless otherwise stated.
cold boot: See boot.
C0M1 and COM2: Names that the operating system gives the com
puter's serial ports to distinguish between them.
commands: Instructions that tell the computer and its devices what to
do. You can enter commands individually, using the keyboard or
pointing device, or combine them into macros or programs. See
also macro, program.
Part I: Getting To Know Your Computer