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AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port): An expansion port used to connect a high-speed graphics video card. Video cards driven through an AGP are desirable for 3-D graphics design work and 3-D games. Many mid-range and high end PCs incorporate this type of video interface. [Top]

All-in-one system: This PC configuration combines the display (monitor) and system unit in a single case that is not much larger than a monitor with equivalent display size. This configuration saves desk space and is somewhat simpler to set up because a separate monitor power cord and the cable connecting the monitor to the system unit are eliminated. Disadvantages include the inability to separately replace the monitor and system units and the limited number of expansion slots and expansion bays usually available for these systems. [Top]

Broadband: Broadband implies a data transmission medium (such as cabling) that carries multiple data streams simultaneously using a different frequency for each data stream. By sharing expensive infrastructure, broadband techniques may permit inexpensive high-speed data transmission. PC-relevant examples include DSL and ISDN that deliver Internet data over telephone lines and cable modems that use the TV cable infrastructure for this purpose. [Top]

Cable modem: The interface device that connects a cable-TV line to an Ethernet NIC installed in the PC to provide high-speed Internet access through a cable provider that offers Internet access. When cable modem service is used, the cable company usually acts as the Internet Service Provider (ISP). [Top]

Computer Case: The cases that hold the system unit are usually categorized (in generally increasing order of space required) as: all-in-one, ultra-compact desktop, desktop, mini-tower, mid-tower and tower. Selecting a case style requires trade-offs between transportability/space requirements and expansion capability. Ultra-compact desktops typically have very restricted expansion capabilities and are often used in office environments where standardized PCs suitable for remote management and configuration are advantageous. The monitor can be placed on top of most desktop cases to save space, and this case style offers easy access to the floppy disk and CD-ROM drives. Tower cases are usually placed on the floor. Full size tower cases provide the maximum number of expansion slots that permit the installation of additional interface circuit boards and expansion bays that permit the installation of additional mass storage devices like hard drives and CD-ROM drives. [Top]

CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory) drive: A mass-storage device that reads data from compact disks. Most PC software is delivered on (and must be installed from) such disks, so CD-ROM capability is a virtual necessity. A CD-ROM can store almost 700 megabytes (million bytes) of data, so CDs are often used to distribute voluminous computer data such as software systems, digitized images, encyclopedias and Computer-Base Training (CBT) that incorporates video and audio. If a PC is equipped with a sound card and speakers, music CDs may be played with the CD-ROM drive. CD-ROM speeds are provided as X-factors calibrated to the speed at which the original audio CD-ROMs operated. A 48X CD-ROM drive has a maximum speed 48 times that of the original CD drives -- the average rotational speed varies depending on the location of the material being read on the CD. [Top]

CD-RW drive: These drives function as CD-ROM drives and also allow the PC to write data onto CDs. Two types of blank CDs are available: CD-R, that can be written only once, and CD-RW that can be rewritten. These drives are useful for backing up computer data and for creating audio CDs. Be aware that not all audio CD players are capable of playing CD-R or CD-RW disks. [Top]

CPU (Central Processing Unit): In a PC, the CPU is represented by the microprocessor. Most microprocessors for PCs are manufactured by the Intel corporation and the major current product lines are named Celeron (the budget line) and Pentium III/IV. AMD is also a major supplier of microprocessors for PCs. The primary performance parameter for the microprocessor is the clock speed measured in MegaHerz (Mhz) that stands for millions of cycles per second or GigaHerz (Ghz) that stands for billions of cycles per second. Higher clock speeds imply faster processing of programs, important for computationally intensive tasks such as 3D games and graphically or mathematically-oriented design work. PCs in the workstation category may permit the installation of multiple microprocessors that share the processing workload. [Top]

DVD-ROM (Digital Video Drive): These drives can read conventional audio or data CDs and can also read DVDs, allowing the user to watch DVD movies on the PC monitor. Note that a sound card and speakers will be required to use this capability. DVD-ROM drives that incorporate the CD-RW ability to write CD-ROMS are becoming available. [Top]

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): A method for providing high-speed Internet access over telephone lines. If DSL service is available, a DSL modem (typically obtained from the service provider) is installed between the phone line and an Ethernet NIC installed in the PC. In most cases, non-commercial PC users will install ADSL (Asynchronous DSL) service in which the upload speed is much slower than the download speed. The DSL service provider generally acts as the Internet Service Provider (ISP). [Top]

Ethernet: The most commonly used protocol for implementing Local Area Networks (LANs). The enabling interface installed in the PC is an Ethernet NIC. [Top]

Expansion Bays: These are the areas provided in a computer case for the addition of mass storage devices including floppy, hard disk, CD-ROM and zip drives. Case styles that represent larger physical form-factors will support more of this type of expansion than more compact cases. Some expansion bays provide the external access required for removable media such as floppy disks or CD-ROMs while others are internal and are suitable for fixed media like hard disks. Also see scalability. [Top]

Expansion Ports: Ports built into the motherboard or installed as peripheral devices to the PC. Specific examples include the serial, parallel and USB ports. [Top]

Expansion Slots: These connectors, provided on the motherboard, permit the installation of interface circuit boards that extend the functionality of the PC at the time it is purchased or as new applications are identified. The number and type of expansion slots depends on the case style, with the larger cases generally providing more potential for expansion. Most motherboards provide at least two type of slots: ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) that permit use of older interface circuit boards and PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) that accommodate more recent, faster operating boards. [Top]

Firewire (IEEE1394/iLink) Interface: A high-speed interface often associated with video-editing equipment such as digital camcorders. Other peripherals including mass storage devices are available for this interface. Usually implemented as an interface circuit board on PCs. [Top]

Firewire hardware

Floppy Disk Drive: A removable media mass storage device. The standard floppy drive included with PCs uses an inexpensive 3.5" disk that stores 1.44 megabytes of data. The floppy drive is useful for storing and exchanging small files and for restarting a PC after a hard drive failure. [Top]

Gigabyte (GB): Precisely represents 1,073,741,824 characters of data, but is loosely interpreted as one-billion characters. [Top]

Graphic Tablet: With this input device a user draws on a tablet with a stylus and the stylus position is continuously input to the PC. Often used in conjunction with software that supports CAD or commercial graphics design work. [Top]

Graphic tablet

Hard Disk Drive: A fixed (non-removable) mass storage device. One or more hard disks are required for any PC to store programs and data files. The capacity of a hard drive is measured in gigabytes and PCs typically have drives with capacities in the 10-40GB range. In addition to the storage capacity, hard drive capability is described by the rotational speed (5400 RPM is typical, 7200 RPM or faster is available in higher priced drives) and the type of interface: IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is typical for personal use PCs, while the faster SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) is common for shared-use computers such as file or Web servers. [Top]

Home Networking: Connecting several PCs together on a LAN to share data and/or a connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Connections may be wired, requiring Network Interface Cards (NICs) in each computer along with a network hub or switch and a cable/DSL router or a combination hub and router. The "phoneline" wired approach uses special interfaces (usually USB) to permit networking across a home's existing phone lines and supports shared Internet access. A similar approach, called "powerline" networking interfaces PCs through a home's electrical outlets. Finally, wireless networking (using the 802.11b standard) within a home is possible using wireless NICs (or USB connected devices) and a wireless cable/DSL router that provides high-speed Internet access and communicates with the wireless NICs. [Top]

Wired Home Networking

Wireless Home Networking

iLink: See firewire (IEEE1394). [Top]

Interface circuit board: Many of the optional capabilities of a PC that involve peripheral devices including printers, scanners and networking connections are implemented by interface circuit boards installed in the PC's expansion slots. Because of the open architecture of a PC's design, these interfaces are often available from sources other than the PC manufacturer. The technical specifications of a circuit board will define the type of expansion slot (e.g. ISA or PCI) required. Interface circuit boards that use the PCI slots will usually transfer data faster and cost more that ISA boards. [Top]

Internet: An internet is a network of networks. "The" Internet (with a capital I) is the publicly accessible, world wide, network of networks through which e-mail and World Wide Web capabilities are usually accessed. [Top]

Internet Activities: This class of applications is defined by their implementation using the publicly accessible network of networks known as the Internet. To use the internet, access to an ISP (Internet Service Provider) is required along with some means of connecting to the ISP through a modem, cable modem, DSL connection or ISDN. [Top]

Internet utilities

Internet activites

Internet Activity - Basic Communications - e-mail, Chat: Internet e-mail allows messages composed on a PC to be transmitted to a recipient's e-mail address. This address identifies both the recipient and a computer called a "mail server." The mail server stores messages in a file identified as the recipient's until they are downloaded by the recipient to his or her own computer. Chat rooms allow groups of people interested in a subject to participate in a live exchange of information. There are variations on the chat theme that allow private or semi-private discussions to take place on-line. [Top]

Internet Activity - Basic Web-Based Training (WBT): See Educational Activity - CBT (Computer-Based Training). [Top]

Internet Activity - Connecting to a Private Network (VPN, Intranet): In addition to the publicly accessible facilities of the Internet, many organizations maintain privately accessible networks to support members' activities. One forms is the VPN (Virtual Private Network) that permits secure access to an organizational network through encrypted data exchange. Another is an intranet that makes use of conventional Internet technologies such as Web servers and browsers but permits only users with passwords to access the Web pages. [Top]

Internet Activity - Listening to/Downloading Music/Video Files: Music and video stored in a digital form as it is on CD-ROM and DVD disks can be downloaded to a PC and played back by multi-media software provided on the PC or transferred to portable devices such as MP3 players. Because these files (especially video files) tend to be voluminous, high-speed internet access is desirable if these applications will be used frequently. [Top]

Internet Activity - Research (News, Sports, Shopping, Hobbies, Medical Info., Genealogy): The bread-and-butter Internet application is use of the World Wide Web to locate and display information. Search engines allow a user to input a search phrase through a Web browser. The search engine returns a list of links to appropriate Web sites based on its continuously updated index of such sites. Clicking on a link displays the indexed Web site's information in the browser. Many Web users also maintain their own personal Web sites to share information about their families and other personal interests. [Top]

Internet Activity - Web-Based Training (WBT) With Video: When motion video is incorporated into WBT, high speed Internet access is desirable because of the volume of data that must be downloaded. An Internet connection based on cable modems, DSL or ISDN is consequently recommended. [Top]

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): Although it uses different technology, ISDN provides high speed connectivity to the Internet through telephone lines much like DSL. [Top]

ISP (Internet Service Provider): The vendor that provides individuals and organizations with access to the Internet. You connect your PC to the ISP through a modem, cable modem, DSL connection or ISDN. Once connected, you have access to the facilities of the Internet through the ISP's interface to the network. [Top]

LAN (Local Area Network): LAN's are differentiated from Wide Area Networks like the Internet by the fact that they run on privately owned infrastructure -- usually wiring, but wireless LANs or combinations of wired/wireless infrastructure are possible. Also see home networking. [Top]

LCD Display: Flat-panel LCD displays similar to those used on notebook computers are available for connection to desktop PCs. Advantages include their compact size and sharp, flat images. They are more expensive than conventionl monitors but prices are decreasing rapidly. Performance parameters include the diagonal screen size and resolution measured in horizontal and vertical pixels (as described for monitors). For LCD displays, the diagonal measure is the actual viewable diagonal. [Top]

Mass Storage: This is a generic term applied to all devices that store large quantities of data in a permanent or semi-permanent form and is generally used to discriminate such devices from random access memory. Examples include floppy and hard disks and CD-ROM drives. [Top]

Megabyte (MB): Precisely represents 1,048,576 characters of data, but is loosely interpreted as one-million characters. [Top]

Memory: See RAM [Top]

Microprocessor: See CPU. [Top]

Modem: An interface device that permits serial communications using a telephone line. A modem is recommended for most PC systems. If the primary connection to the Internet or other network will be through a NIC connected to a LAN, DSL phone line or cable modem, an inexpensive modem is worth having to provide a backup connection. [Top]

Monitor: The monitor permits the dynamic display of text and graphics. Most monitors use CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) technology similar to a TV set, but LCD displays are also available for desktop PCs. The most important performance parameters for CRT monitors are the screen size, maximum resolution, and dot pitch. The screen size is measured diagonally and the actual viewable diagonal is usually about one inch smaller that the stated diagonal of the CRT. The picture on a monitor is produced by lighting up small dots called pixels (a contraction of picture elements) in appropriate colors to render text or images. The pixels are arranged in horizontal rows, and the maximum screen resolution is the number of pixels in each row times the number of rows: 1024 x 768 means there are 1024 pixels in each row and 768 rows on the screen. More pixels means a more detailed image can be produced. The dot pitch is provided as a decimal fraction and is an indicator of the sharpness of the image. A small dot pitch (.28 or .25) is preferred. [Top]

Detailed monitor buying guide

Motherboard: The main circuit board on which the core components of a PC are mounted. Also see System Unit. [Top]

Network Hub or Switch: A device that provides a cabled connection to the Network Interface Cards (NICs) on two or more PCs to allow them to share files. A switch supports a higher-speed network by allowing multiple PCs to exchange data across the network simultaneously, while a hub allows traffic between only two devices at a time. [Top]

Network: A computer network provides the capability for any pair of devices connected to the network to exchange data. Each device is a node on the network and is identifiable by a unique address. [Top]

NIC (Network Interface Card): An interface circuit board that allows a PC to connect to a LAN. [Top]

OS (Operating System): Computer software that provides the interface between the user of a PC and the applications programs. The operating system provides standardized methods that let applications interact with devices such as the monitor, printers, hard disks and communications devices including the modem and NIC. Most PCs run some version of Microsoft Windows as the operating system. It is possible to install more than one operating system on the same PC and select the one you want to work with at the time the computer "boots" or powers up. [Top]

Operating Systems

Detailed OS buying guide

Parallel/Printer Port: This port is included with most PCs either as part of the mother board or as an interface circuit board. Its primary use is for attaching a printer, but may also be used by other peripheral devices like scanners, video cameras and cables for exchanging data between computers. It provides for faster data exchange than the serial port but, like that port, is losing importance as more peripherals are designed to attach the the USB port. [Top]

PC Card (PCMCIA): [Top]

Peripheral Devices: This is a generic term applied to all devices attached to the system unit. Peripheral devices almost always provide for data input, output or both. Examples include monitors, printers, scanners and modems. [Top]

Personal Activities: Personal applications support family activities, hobbies, entertainment and other personal interests along with financial and home management tasks. Work at home activities, in support of a home business or out-of-home job, are excluded from this category (see SOHO activities). [Top]

Personal Administrative/Analysis Activities: Software applications in this category support personal communication, financial management and home management. [Top]

Personal Administrative/Analysis Activity - Basic Word Processing: This category of word processing encompasses short documents like letters that do not require sophisticated formatting. Software to support basic word processing is usually included with the operating system. For example, Microsoft's WordPad is suitable for this category of writing. [Top]

Personal Administrative/Analysis Activity - Financial Management: Managing personal financial records and budgets, paying bills on-line or by printing checks and performing income tax calculations are included in this activity. It is advisable to buy software products that can exchange data: a personal money manager that can input data to tax software, for example. PCs are sometimes sold equipped with limited editions of financial management software: check on this before ordering a software package that might provide more capability than you need. [Top]

Personal finance

Personal Administrative/Analysis Activity - Desktop Publishing: Tasks in this category include producing party invitations, greeting cards, brochures and newsletters. PCs and printers often come equipped with limited editions of desktop publishing software suitable for home/personal use: check on this before buying additional software. [Top]

Personal Education/Training Activities: The ability to provide integrated text, graphics, audio and video in a highly interactive environment makes the PC an ideal medium for delivering education and training on the desktop. Courses of all kinds are available and are generally delivered on CD-ROM, over a corporate LAN or through the Internet -- generally as a World Wide Web application. [Top]

Personal Educational Activity - CBT (Computer-Based Training): CBT courses typically provide a sequence of lessons interspersed with quizzes that measure student progress and provide for remedial access to material that isn't understood. Courses often incorporate text, graphics, video and audio along with exercises that could include simulations or games. An advantage of CBT is the access to training at times and places convenient to the student. When CBT is delivered over the Internet using the World Wide Web it is called Web-Based Training (WBT). A major CBT applications area is teaching people to use PC software and hardware. [Top]

Education & how-to

Personal Educational Activity - Encyclopedia Research: A computer-based encyclopedia typically integrates text, graphics, video and audio information with a sophisticated search capability. These applications are typically delivered on CD-ROM or made available on the World Wide Web. [Top]

Encyclopedias

Personal Educational Activity - Taking a Computer to School/College: If the PC will need to be transported to school, weight and physical dimensions are issues to consider. Desk space is often limited in dormitory rooms or rental accommodations and the computer may have to be transported frequently between home and campus so small cases or all-in-one systems are often appropriate for these applications. [Top]

Personal Educational Activity - K-12: Both stand-alone CBT and Web-based software is available to support the needs of students in grades K-12. These programs often incorporate games and simulations and can enhance math, language and other academic skills as well as providing support skills such as keyboarding and use of PC software. Computer-based encyclopedia and other forms of research, especially on the World Wide Web, is another important student support opportunity. There is also a growing collection of software intended specifically to support home schooling. [Top]

The Learning Company

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activities: PCs provide opportunities for new entertainment activities and support existing hobbies in a variety of categories. [Top]

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activity - Computer-Based Design: Software is available to support personally-oriented design activities including houses, remodeling projects, gardens, sewing, needlework and other crafts. [Top]

Home and hobbies

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activity - Digital Photo Editing: Photo editing software allows manipulation of digital images uploaded from a digital camera or input by scanning prints. Images can be cropped and retouched in a variety of ways. Digital cameras and scanners often include photo editing software, or limited-capability versions of such software might be included with the PC purchase. [Top]

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activity - Home Video Editing: Digital video editing allows you to combine scenes, insert titles and perform other manipulations to produce professional looking home videos. A firewire interface (and firewire adapter for your camera if it does not directly support firewire) are desirable. [Top]

Video editing

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activity - Playing Action Games: Action games with 3-D graphics place a heavy load on the processor and video interface. If this is an important application, desirable PC features include a CPU with a high clock speed, a large-screen monitor and a video interface that operates through an AGP port. Specialized game controls such as gamepads, joysticks and steering wheels may be attached to a PC to enhance the realism of the games. [Top]

PC action games

Detailed game hardware buying guide

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activity - Playing Non-Action Games: Non-action games (chess, anyone?) do not usually require any special features. If games that may be played against live opponents are of interest, Internet capability should be acquired. [Top]

PC games

Personal Entertainment/Hobby Activity - Watching DVD Movies: The same DVD movies purchased or rented from video stores to play on a DVD player connected to a TV set can be watched on a PC monitor if the PC is equipped with a DVD player, sound card and speakers. [Top]

Printer: A peripheral device used to produce paper output of text and (usually) graphics. Various printing technologies are employed. The fastest and highest quality printing is produced by laser printers that use technology similar to photocopiers. These printers are generally more expensive than other printers and, except for very expensive devices, print only in black and white. For most PC applications, ink jet printers that spray small dots of ink on the paper to produce the image are the best choice. These are quiet, provide high quality black and white or color output at reasonable speeds and are available in inexpensive models. Some ink jets print on materials other than paper to support specialized applications such as iron-on graphics for fabric. Laser and ink jet printers produce only single copies of output. If multiple copies must be produced in one printing pass, dot matrix impact printers are suggested. [Top]

Printers

Detailed printer buying guide

Processor (CPU): See CPU. [Top]

RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM stores computer programs and data while the CPU processes them to provide an application's capabilities. The amount of RAM, measured in MB (megabytes), available in a PC has a major impact on system performance. Typical PC memory capacities are 64MB and 128MB. When insufficient memory is available, the PC's operating system will swap parts of programs back and forth to the hard drive, dramatically slowing system performance. It is possible to add additional memory to a PC after it is purchased, but RAM is currently inexpensive so purchasing adequate capacity with a new system is recommended. [Top]

Detailed RAM buying guide

Scalability: The potential to upgrade a PC to handle more demanding tasks and to accommodate new technologies is influenced by the availability of expansion bays in the computer case that allow for installation of additional mass storage devices, the availability of various types of expansion slots that permit installation of interface circuit boards to accommodate new peripherals and the ability to add additional RAM and either replace the microprocessor or add additional microprocessors to improve performance.

Scanner: A peripheral device used to digitize an image. Used to convert printed or hand drawn images into a form that may be manipulated by graphics software or transmitted over the Internet. Software that is usually included with the hardware permits a scanner to be used for copying and faxing.

Scanners

Search Engine: Search engines provide access to continuously updated indexes of World Wide Web content. After a search term or phrase is entered, the search engine displays a list of links to Web sites described by related terms or phrases in decreasing order of likely interest. Clicking on one of these links accesses the site. Search engines are either integrated with Web portals (e.g. Yahoo.com, Excite.com) or provided as stand-alone capabilities (e.g. Google.com, AskJeeves.com). [Top]

Serial Port: Most PCs provide a serial port that can be used to attach a variety of peripherals including the mouse, scanner, external modem and some printers. As more peripherals make use of the USB port, the serial port becomes less important. [Top]

SOHO: Small Office Home Office applications would be used by very small businesses that might operate from a home office, by telecommuters or by employees who use their own PC to support work they bring home from the office. [Top]

SOHO Administrative Activities: PC support for these activities limits time spent on routine administrative tasks and permits professional-quality communications with a business's customers and suppliers. [Top]

SOHO administration (office suites)

SOHO Administrative Activity - Basic Word Processing: This category of word processing includes smaller documents like letters, memos and reports that do not require complex formatting. Software to support basic word processing is often included with the operating system. For example, Microsoft's WordPad is suitable for this category of writing. [Top]

SOHO Administrative Activity - Business Desktop publishing: Brochures, advertising flyers and instructions that accompany products are included in this activity. The capability for complex layouts including column formatting and the flexible integration of text and graphics is usually required. Full-capability word processing software often provides these capabilities. [Top]

Desktop publishing

SOHO Administrative Activity - Business Graphics: Both home-based businesses and out-of-the-office workers may need to develop business graphics including graphs of numerical data, flowcharts, organizational charts and graphics depicting workflow, software or database design. In some cases, general purpose drawing programs are appropriate for these tasks, but software specialized for the problem context saves time and is more likely to produce professional-quality results. [Top]

Business graphics

SOHO Administrative Activity - Business Presentations: Presentation software produces computer-based slide shows that can include animation, audio and motion video. Most presentation software will format the presentation as paper copies with options for one or many slides to be printed on each page along with optional text notes. [Top]

Presentations

SOHO Administrative Activity - Complex Word Processing: Preparation of documents that are lengthy, involve complex layouts or require auxiliary information such as indexes, references and footnotes is facilitated by using full-featured word processing software. [Top]

Complex word processing

SOHO Administrative Activity - Personal Information Management: PIM (Personal Information Management) software automates many of the record keeping tasks historically accomplished with printed planning notebooks. Example tasks include maintaining sales contact information and managing calendars for meetings and other appointments. [Top]

Personal Information Management (PIM)

SOHO Analysis Activities: Analysis activities may support SOHO operations or actually represent the service delivered from the home office. Some of these tasks are computationally-intensive, justifying high-performance computers, or data-intensive, justifying extensive mass storage availability. [Top]

SOHO Analysis Activity - Bookkeeping/Accounting: Software in this category ranges from easy-to-use programs intended for very small businesses to sophisticated network-based multiuser accounting packages. Accounting software supports recordkeeping that is a legal requirement for all businesses and also provides analytical reports and graphs that help the entrepreneur operate effectively. [Top]

Accounting

SOHO Analysis Activity - Electronic Spreadsheet Analysis: The PC-based analog to the accountant's paper spreadsheet allows easy entry of data that can then be manipulated mathematically and formatted for display as reports or graphs. Many financial and scientific/engineering analysis tasks can be supported with this class of software. Pre-designed spreadsheets for many of these tasks are available commercially or as free Internet downloads. [Top]

Electronic spreadsheets

SOHO Analysis Activity - Mathematical/Engineering Analysis: Software in this category supports complex, computationally-intensive mathematical operations including symbolic algebraic manipulation, numerical solution of differential equations and computer simulation. [Top]

Mathematical/engineering analysis

SOHO Analysis Activity - Project Planning/Management: Project management software represents a project as a series of time-sequenced interdependent tasks. Graphical and text reports based on a database in which progress is recorded can be used to find conflicts and bottlenecks that must be resolved to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Small businesses that are heavy users of this capability include builders, remodelers and consultants. [Top]

Project management

SOHO Analysis Activity - Statistical Analysis: While limited data analysis can be performed with electronic spreadsheets, full-featured statistical analysis software is available to support complex business and scientific research activity. [Top]

Data analysis with Excel at Amazon.com

SOHO Analysis Activity - Web-Based Survey Administration: This software supports preparation of questionnaires that may be administered over the Internet, by mail or in person. Surveys are often used to support marketing research. Generation of reports and graphs used to analyze results might be performed by the same software that produces the survey, or the data might be loaded into a statistical package or electronic spreadsheet. [Top]

SOHO Developer Activities: Developer activities might be performed to support a small business or could represent the service provided by the business. If any of these tasks represent the major application for the PC, acquisition of a high-performance CPU and peripherals is suggested. [Top]

SOHO Developer Activity - Computer-Aided Design (Architectural, Electronic, Mechanical): Most of the mechanical drafting tasks associated with architectural, electronic and mechanical design can be replaced with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software. If CAD is to be a major application, a large-screen monitor is suggested. Special peripherals such as a graphic tablet may also be required. [Top]

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

SOHO Developer Activity - Developing and Maintaining Desktop Databases: Database management software is useful for maintaining SOHO records such as customer mailing lists and inventory data. The database software can produce custom designed reports and graphs useful in managing a business. [Top]

Database

SOHO Developer Activity - Developing and Maintaining Web Sites: A Web site is becoming an expected component of even the smallest businesses. Web pages are stored on a Web server that is typically shared with others and operated by an Internet hosting provider. The site is developed on a local computer, then uploaded across the Internet to the server. Web pages may be developed with a simple text editor or may be formatted with many of the word processing or desktop publishing programs. There are also programs specifically designed to simplify both the development of a Web site and the management of complex sites that could incorporate many Web pages. [Top]

Developing/maintaining Web sites

SOHO Developer Activity - Developing Commercial Digital Graphics: Computer-based commercial art has long been important for desktop publishing activities related to advertising and public relations. The popularity of the Web has increased the demand for digital graphics work. Programs that facilitate this work include capabilities for special effects such as three-dimensional drawing and animation. A graphic tablet is suggested to support freehand drawing. Some tasks in this category (developing photographic-quality 3-D graphics or computer-rendered video) are computationally intensive, suggesting the need for very fast microprocessors and/or multiple processor capability. [Top]

Commercial digital graphics

SOHO Developer Activity - Developing Computer-Based Training (CBT): Multimedia courseware development tools are available to support production of integrated text, audio, graphics, and motion video instructional delivery. [Top]

CBT/WBT authoring tools

SOHO Developer Activity - Developing Web-Based Training (WBT): When CBT will be delivered via the World Wide Web, additional facilities (beyond those needed for desktop CBT) are required. For example, parts of the training may be implemented in downloadable Java applets or in Web server based scripts. Some course development tools support both CBT and WBT. [Top]

SOHO Developer Activity - Writing Computer Software: PC software development is typically done using IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) that integrate program writing, testing and debugging. A large screen monitor supporting high resolutions is a worthwhile investment if programming is to be a major activity because of the need to view source code and supporting information simultaneously while developing software. [Top]

Programming

Sound Card: This capability is either implemented as part of the motherboard or as an interface circuit board. Its function is to convert digitized sound into analog sound for output to speakers. [Top]

Speech Recognition: Software is available that enables PC control and data input through a microphone. Microphones are attached either to the sound card or to a USB port. [Top]

System Unit: Most of the electronic components that implement a PC are installed on a single printed circuit board called the "motherboard." This board is installed in a computer case that, together with other components installed in the case, defines the PC system unit. [Top]

USB (Universal Serial Bus) Interface/Port: This high speed interface is a recent addition to PC hardware and has become an important port because many current models of printers, scanners and other peripheral devices that once used the serial or parallel/printer ports now incorporate only USB port interfaces. [Top]

Video Card: The video interface used to connect a monitor to the PC is implemented on the motherboard or as an interface circuit board. The interface incorporates a dedicated graphics processor and its own RAM to support video operations. The amount of video RAM determines how many color levels can be displayed at each monitor resolution. For 16.7 million color levels, 3 bytes of memory are required for each pixel: each byte stores 8 bits of data, so this level of color support is defined as 24 bit color. To support 1024 x 768 resolution, 1024 x 768 x 3 bytes of video memory are required and the 4MB video card is adequate. For the high-performance graphics demanded by action 3-D games or 3-D modeling, rapid data transfer between the computer and video board is desirable. An AGP interface (and video board that uses it) is preferred for these applications. [Top]

VPN (Virtual Private Network): See Internet Activity - Connecting to a Private Network (VPN, Intranet). [Top]

WBT (Web-Based Training): See Educational Activity - CBT (Computer-Based Training). [Top]

Web Browser: This software provides the user interface to the World Wide Web. A browser accepts input of a Web address in the form of a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), downloads Web pages across the Internet from the Web server associated with the URL, then formats and displays the pages. Netscape and Internet Explorer are the most commonly used browsers and both are available free -- installed with the operating system, from a CD-ROM disk provided with the PC or downloaded from the Internet. [Top]

Web Server: This is a computer connected to the Internet that downloads data representing Web pages to browsers that requests them. A Web server may service multiple Web sites, each of which is identified by a unique domain name (e.g. eXpertise2Go.com). A browser requests Web pages by embedding the domain name in a URL. For example:
http://www.eXpertise2Go.com is the URL for this Web site. [Top]

Workstation: PCs in this category are intended for the computationally intensive tasks performed by power users. High-speed microprocessors, multiple microprocessors, sophisticated graphics hardware, high-speed hard disk drives and extensive physical expansion capabilities are typical in this class of equipment. The demands of engineering and mathematical analysis (including financial analysis), 3-D Computer Aided Design (CAD) and digital graphics development may justify these systems. [Top]

World Wide Web (or just the Web): The World Wide Web (WWW) is an application that runs on the Internet. It is defined by protocols (rules for exchanging data) and employs Web servers to store the data representing Web pages and Web browsers to request and display the data. [Top]

Zip Drive: These are removable media mass storage devices that have much higher capacities than floppy drives. They are useful for backing up data from hard disk drives and for exchanging files too voluminous to fit on a floppy disk. Zip is a brand name; similar products from other manufacturers include the SuperDisk. These drives are available for internal installation in an expansion bay or for external use. The external drives typically connect to a parallel or USB expansion port. [Top]