Author Topic: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"  (Read 15126 times)

Offline MysteRy

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #15 on: April 16, 2014, 10:26:03 AM »
White Paper

This term has historically been used to describe a report that states the social or political position of an organization. In recent years, however, the IT industry has adopted the term to describe articles that explain a certain technology or product. For example, a company may release a white paper to the public in order to educate consumers about one of their products. The terminology used may be somewhat technical, but the goal of a white paper is usually to describe the technology or product in terms most people can understand. That way nerds don't get to have all the fun each time a new technology is invented.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #16 on: April 16, 2014, 10:28:29 AM »
WHOIS

This is an Internet service that finds information about a domain name or IP address. If you enter a domain name in a WHOIS search engine, it will scour a huge database of domains and return information about the one you entered. This information typically contains the name, address, and phone number of the administrative, billing, and technical contacts of the domain name. WHOIS can also be used to simply check if a certain domain name is available or if it has already been registered. To see the WHOIS service in action, check out Allwhois.com  or BetterWhois.com.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2014, 10:45:36 AM by MysteRy »

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #17 on: April 16, 2014, 10:53:07 AM »
Wi-Fi

Example: "Many coffee shops offer customers Internet access through a Wi-Fi connection."

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking standard trademarked by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It refers to all networking equipment that is based on one of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Wi-Fi allows computers and other devices to connect to wireless routers and therefore other systems on the network. If the router is connected to the Internet, devices connected to the wireless access point may also have Internet access.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #18 on: April 16, 2014, 10:54:32 AM »
Widget

Example: "Weather widgets provide a simple way to check the weather."

Widgets are small programs designed for the Mac OS X Dashboard. Some widgets included with Mac OS X include a dictionary, calendar, weather forecast, and stock list widget. Several thousand other dashboard widgets are available from third-party developers.

Unlike standard applications, widgets are not standalone programs. Instead, they can only be run within the Mac OS X Dashboard. While this limits the capabilities of widgets, they are not meant to be full-blown applications. Instead, each widget is designed to serve a single purpose. Since the Dashboard can display multiple widgets at once, it provides a simple interface for performing several common tasks.

Important: Yahoo also provides a widget interface for Mac and Windows systems called Yahoo! Widgets.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #19 on: April 16, 2014, 10:57:43 AM »
Wiki

A wiki is a Web site that allows users to add and update content on the site using their own Web browser. This is made possible by Wiki software that runs on the Web server. Wikis end up being created mainly by a collaborative effort of the site visitors. A great example of a large wiki is the Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia in many languages that anyone can edit. The term "wiki" comes from the Hawaiian phrase, "wiki wiki," which means "super fast." I guess if you have thousands of users adding content to a Web site on a regular basis, the site could grow "super fast."

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #20 on: April 16, 2014, 11:04:02 AM »
Wildcard

Example: "Common wildcard characters include *, ?, and %."

If you've played card games, you may be familiar with the term "wild card." It refers to a card that can take the place of other cards. For example, a player who receives a Joker may decide to play the card as an Ace of Spades. In Uno, a wild card can be any color, which means it can be played at any time.

In computing, wildcards serve a similar purpose. A wildcard is a character that may be substituted for zero or more characters in a string. Wildcards are commonly used for matching patters in computer programs and database queries. By using a wildcards, a query may return results that are close, but not exact matches to a given string. Without wildcards, only exact strings can be matched.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #21 on: April 16, 2014, 11:04:58 AM »
WiMAX

Example: "The city provides wireless public Internet access using a WiMAX signal."

WiMAX, also known as "IEEE 802.16," is a broadband wireless access (BWA) standard similar to Wi-Fi. However, unlike Wi-Fi, which only has a range of several hundred feet, a WiMAX signal can be broadcast up to 30 miles. Therefore, WiMAX can be used to provide Internet access to large areas, such as corporate buildings or entire cities, with a single wireless station. While WiMAX isn't expected to replace Wi-Fi in small settings, it will provide a new, more efficient way of covering large regions.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #22 on: April 16, 2014, 11:07:41 AM »
Win32

This is the Windows application programming interface (API) for developing 32-bit applications. It has been used for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and newer Windows operating systems. This means that if you use Windows 95 or later, you can run 32-bit applications on your computer. Win32 is a term that is important to programmers, but is not crucial for the average user to know. Just know that if you have Windows 95 or later, you can run Win32 applications. If you want to learn more about Win32, including a bunch of technical jargon, you can visit Microsoft's Developer Website for more information.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2014, 11:10:56 AM by MysteRy »

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #23 on: April 16, 2014, 11:12:46 AM »
Window

A window is an area on the screen that displays information for a specific program. This often includes the user interface GUI as well as the program content. Windows are used by most applications as well as the operating system itself. A typical window includes a title bar along the top that describes the contents of the window, followed by a toolbar that contains user interface buttons. Most of the window's remaining area is used to display the content.

Examples:

1. Web Browser windows:
The top of a typical Web browser window contains a title bar that displays the title of the current page. Below the title is a toolbar with back and forward buttons, an address field, bookmarks, and other navigation buttons. Below the toolbar is the content of the current Web page. The bottom of the window may contain a status bar that displays the page loading status

2. Word Processing windows:
A window used by a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word, typically includes buttons for page and text formatting, followed by a ruler that defines the document area. Below the ruler is the main page area used for entering text.

3. Operating System windows:
Windows used by the operating system typically include navigation buttons along the top and shortcuts to folders and other locations on the left side of the window. The rest of the window is used to display icons or lists of files and folders.

Most windows can be opened, closed, resized, minimized, and moved around the screen. The close, minimize, and zoom buttons are located on the title bar (on the right side on Windows and the left side on Macs). Minimizing a window will close the contents of the window, but store a reference to it in the Taskbar (Windows) or the Dock (Mac). Closing a window will make it disappear completely (so you may be asked to save your changes first). To move a window, click on the title bar and drag the window where you want it. To resize a window, either click the Zoom button in the title bar or click the lower right-hand corner and expand or contract the window to the size you want.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #24 on: April 16, 2014, 11:14:41 AM »
Windows

Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system for personal computers. There are several versions of the Windows operating system, including Windows XP (for home users) and Windows 2000 (for professional users). Earlier versions of Windows include Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME, and NT. All Windows platforms use a graphical user interface (GUI), like the Mac OS, and also offer a command-line interface for typing text commands.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #25 on: April 16, 2014, 11:16:16 AM »
Windows 7

Example: "Windows 7 comes pre-installed on most PCs."

Windows 7 is the seventh version of the Microsoft Windows operating system. It follows Windows Vista and is designed to be a sleeker operating system than its predecessor, with faster performance and fewer compatibility issues. Windows 7 also include several new features, such as multitouch support for touchscreen interfaces, a simple home networking system called "HomeGroup," and an improved Windows Search feature.

Windows 7 is available in three editions in the United States, including Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions. There is also a Home Basic version available in other countries, as well as an Enterprise edition that is only sold to companies through volume licensing.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #26 on: April 16, 2014, 11:18:56 AM »
Windows 8

Example: "Windows 8 runs on both traditional PCs and touchscreen devices."

Windows 8 is the eighth version of Microsoft Windows, released on October 26, 2012. It includes several improvements to Windows 7, but the most notable is an updated user interface, which displays a grid of tiles on the home screen. These tiles provide one-click access to common programs, games, and utilities. Examples include Photos, Videos, Music, Internet Explorer, Maps, Weather. Several of the tiles, such as the Maps, Weather, and custom social networking tiles, display information that is updated dynamically.

The tile-based interface (formerly called "Metro") makes Windows 8 a suitable operating system for both traditional PCs and tablets. It also functions well on hybrid systems that include a touchscreen but also support traditional input devices. While the tile-based interface is a major part of Windows 8, Microsoft did not get rid of the standard Windows desktop interface. Therefore, if you prefer to use the familiar Windows Explorer, you can access the standard Windows interface from the Home screen.

Windows 8 is available in standard, Pro, and Enterprise editions. The Pro edition primarily offers additional networking and encryption options compared to the standard edition. Windows 8 Enterprise includes virtualization features and a utility called "AppLocker,\" that prevents unwanted software from being installed on the computer.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #27 on: April 16, 2014, 11:22:18 AM »
Windows Vista

Windows Vista is the latest version of Microsoft's Windows operating system. The business version was released at the end of 2006, while the consumer version shipped on January 30, 2007.

The Vista operating system includes an updated look from Windows XP, referred to as the "Aero" interface. The desktop, windows, icons, and toolbars have a smoother 3D look, similar to the Mac OS X interface. These graphics are generated using the new Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) graphics subsystem included with Windows Vista. Other improvements include faster indexed file searching (which can locate text within files), built-in Web services called the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), support for the new XML Paper Specification (XPS) document format, numerous security improvements, and more multimedia capabilities built into the operating system.

Windows Vista was code-named "Longhorn" for much of the development process. The operating system was originally slated to ship in 2003 as an update to Windows XP, but Microsoft decided to make additional updates to the operating system and scheduled it for release in 2005. Several delays pushed back the release date to 2006 and eventually to the beginning of 2007. In order to ship the consumer version by early 2007, the new file system called Windows Future Storage, or WinFS, was left out of the release. Microsoft plans to incorporate the WinFS file system in a future update.

Overall, Vista is a major upgrade to the Windows operating system (which is a good thing, since it has been over five years since Microsoft's last major OS release). The interface feels more modern, file navigation has been improved and system security has been designed to be stronger than Windows XP.


If you plan to purchase Windows Vista for your system, you can choose one of five options:

Business - designed for small business users and streamlined for work-oriented tasks
Enterprise - meant for large, global organizations with complex IT infrastructures
Home Basic - the most basic version of Vista designed for the average home user
Home Premium - a more robust home version that includes extra security and multimedia features
Ultimate - includes all the features from the Home Premium and Business versions of Vista

The absolute minimum system requirements for Vista are:

800 MHz processor
512 MB of RAM
20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
Super VGA graphics support
CD-ROM drive

However, Microsoft recommends the following system requirements:

1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 GB of RAM
40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
DirectX 9 graphics support with a WDDM Driver
128 MB (minimum) of video RAM
Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
32 bits per pixel
DVD-ROM drive
Audio Output
Internet access

Because many of Vista's new features require the recommended system requirements, it may be best to upgrade your operating system only if your computer meets or exceeds the recommended specifications. Otherwise, waiting to buy a new machine with Windows Vista installed is probably the best choice.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #28 on: April 16, 2014, 11:25:37 AM »
Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP was introduced in 2001 and is the most significant upgrade to the Windows operating system since Windows 95. The previous version of Windows, called Windows Me (or Millennium Edition) still had the look and feel of Windows 95 and was known to have stability issues and incompatibilities with certain hardware.

Windows XP addressed many issues of its predecessor and added a number of other improvements as well. It is a stable operating system since it is built on the Windows 2000 kernel, which is known for its reliability. XP also has a new, more modern look, and an interface that is more easy to navigate than previous versions of Windows. While not written from the ground up, like Mac OS X, Windows XP is a substantial system update. The letters "XP" stand for "eXPerience," meaning the operating system is meant to be a new type of user experience.

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Re: Computer Terms Beginning with "W"
« Reply #29 on: April 16, 2014, 11:27:32 AM »
Winsock

Winsock. "Isn't that one of those tube-like flags that tell which way the wind is blowing?" Actually, that's a "windsock," which was first used by airline pilots to tell how fast and what direction the wind was blowing. To learn how to make your own windsock, click here.

Winsock is actually short "Windows sockets," which are files that allow Windows programs to connect to the Internet and other computers. Technically, Winsock is an "Application Programming Interface (API)," that developers use to make their programs network-enabled. 16-bit applications use a file called WINSOCK.DLL and 32-bit applications use a file called WSOCK32.DLL. Both of these files are libraries of networking functions (based on TCP/IP), but they can differ from computer to computer, depending on the vendor. If you use Windows, you probably use Winsock on a regular basis. Fortunately, unless you're a Windows programmer, you don't have to understand exactly how it works.