Toshiba SATELLITE P500 User Manual

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cursor — An on-screen symbol (usually a flashing vertical line) that 

indicates the position where characters will appear when you enter 
data.

default — The setting selected by a program when the user does not 

specify an alternative setting.

device — A component attached to the computer. Devices may be 

external (outside the computer’s case) or internal (inside the 
computer’s case). Printers, disk drives, and modems are examples of 
devices.

device driver — A program (called a “driver”) that permits a computer 

to communicate with a device.

dialog box — An on-screen window displayed by the operating system 

or a program giving a direction or requesting input from the user.

direct current (DC) — The type of power usually supplied by batteries. 

DC flows in one direction. Compare alternating current (AC).

direct memory access (DMA) — A dedicated channel, bypassing the 

CPU, that enables direct data transfer between memory and a 
device.

directory — See folder.

disable — To turn a computer option off. See also enable.

disc — A round, flat piece of material, designed to be read from and 

written to by optical (laser) technology, and used in the production 
of optical discs, such as CDs and DVDs. Compare disk.

disk — A round, flat piece of material that can be magnetically 

influenced to hold information in digital form, and used in the 
production of magnetic disks, such as diskettes and hard disks. 
Compare disc. See also diskette, hard disk.

disk drive — The device that reads and writes information and programs 

on a diskette or hard disk. It rotates the disk at high speed past one or 
more read/write heads.

diskette — A thin, flexible disk in a protective jacket that stores 

magnetically encoded data. Diskettes can be removed from the 
computer and come in two sizes: 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch. Your 
computer uses 3.5-inch diskettes. See also double-density diskette, 
high-density diskette.