Packet

A unit of data formatted for transmission on a network. Data is broken up into packets for sending over a packet switching network. Each packet has a header containing its source and destination, a block of data content, and an error-checking code. All the data packets related to a message may not take the same route to get to their destination; they are reassembled once they have arrived.

Packets Per Second

The measurement of transmission speed in a local area network

Pallette

A row of icons that controls a program and what the program
does (functions). Many graphics programs, for example, have
palettes containing a pencil, an eraser, and a paintbrush icon. 
A palette is sometimes called a toolbox or toolbar.

Pantone

A popular printing industry system for specifying colors.

Parallel

Literally means side by side. A parallel interface can transmit eight bits at one time, over eight parallel lines. A serial interface transmits only one bit at a time.


Parallel Port

A connection on a computer, usually LPT1, where you plug in the
cable for a parallel printer. Windows supports LPT1 through LPT3.

Parallel Printer

A printer with a parallel interface, which you connect to a parallel port.

Parameter

Information added to the command that starts an application. A
parameter can be a file name or any type of information up to 62
characters in length.

Parity

An integer's property of being odd or even. Parity checking is used to detect errors in binary-coded data.

Parity bit

An extra bit included to check the parity in data bytes. 

Partition

A section of a hard disk set aside for use with a specific operating
system, or act or separating the hard drive into such sections.

Password Sniffer

A Trojan Horse program which detects the user's password and sends it to the originator of the file.

Password Stealer

PWS   A program embedded in a file to steal passwords. The user becomes vulnerable upon downloading the file. The next time the user logs on, the user's password is sent to the maker of the program, without the user's knowledge

Path

Specifies the location of a file within the directory tree. Example:
c\windows\system.ini.

PC

Stands for personal computer which means a computer that 
one person uses. Usually, PC's are referred to as IBM and
IBM-compatible but Macs are PC's too.

PC Card

Trademark name for a lightweight, removable module about the size of a credit card that adds features to a portable computer, developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. It is also called the PCMCIA card.

PC-XT

Abbreviation for personal computer-extended technology

PCI

Peripheral Component Interface; a new kind of ultra fast expansion card.

PCI Bus

Peripheral Component Interconnect bus. 
A personal computer local bus designed by Intel, which runs at 33 MHz and supports Plug and Play. It provides a high-speed connection with peripherals and allows connection of seven peripheral devices. It is mostly used with Pentium computers but is processor independent and therefore able to work with other processors. It plugs into a PCI slot on the motherboard. 

PCI Slot

Peripheral Component Interconnect slot. A slot on the motherboard which is available to plug in a PCI bus.

PCX

A graphics file format (and therefore a file extension) for the
PC. PCX is supported by almost every program on the PC, 
both windows and DOS. PCX files are bitmapped graphics files.

PDA

Portable Digital Assistant
Hand held computers that let you store notes, make phone calls, and send email.

Pentium

A newer microprocessor used by IBM and IBM compatible computers.
They are made by Intel and are known for their speed and reliability.

Performa

One new line of Macintosh computers (also Quadra, Centris, and Power Mac). These three lines of Macs are designed for ease of
use, including many features, some however are a bit scaled down,
that include CD-ROM drives, Audio/Visual capability, and more.
Some Performas also have the PowerPC chip, which also classifies
them as Power Macs (see "Power Macintosh").

Peripheral

Something that you add on, like a hard drive.

Perl

A Web scripting language that allows one to make server-side code
such as HTML, VRML, etc. It uses the best of C, BASIC, and other
languages.

Phosphor  Burn In

The reason we have screen savers.

Phreaker

A phreaker is a type of hacker that does illegal things with phones 
and can get in a lot of trouble for what they do.

PICT

An image file format. If you look at a picture on your computer, it
might be a PICT.

PIF

Stands for program information file. A file that provides information
about how windows should run a non-windows application.

Ping

Packet Internet Groper.
A program used to test whether a particular network destination is online, by sending an Internet control message protocol (ICMP) echo request and waiting for a response

Piracy

Installing commercial software that you didn't pay for. This is illegal.
You can be arrested for doing it and/or have a huge fine to pay.

Pixel

A tiny dot on your computer screen. A bunch of them makes your
screen what it looks like when the monitor is turned on.

Platform Independence

The capability of a local area network (LAN) to connect computers
made by different makers, such as connecting an IBM PC-compatible
computer with a Macintosh computer.   Submitted By SRugrats

Plug and Play

The ability of a computer to automatically detect and configure new hardware components when they are plugged in, without requiring the user to go through complicated installation procedures. 

Pointer

The on-screen arrow that moves when you move the computers
mouse. The pointer is often described (incorrectly) as the cursor
(see "Cursor").

Port

(No, we're not goin sailin) Holes in the back of your computer
that allow you to plug in different things, such as a monitor,
modem, CD-Rom, printer, and more (but not too much more).

Port Replicator

A device that is used to connect peripherals to a portable computer. It has all the same ports as those on the portable computer. The peripherals, such as a monitor, printer, modem, etc., are kept plugged into the port replicator; then the portable computer can be quickly plugged into the one unit, instead of having to connect each peripheral individually.

Power Adaptor

A transformer plugged into a wall outlet that converts the AC power from the outlet into DC power for an electronic device such as a modem.

Power Cycle

To turn a machine's power off and then on again, in hopes of curing a problem such as a frozen or hung state


Power Macintosh

The speedy Macintosh, that has a Power PC microprocessor, that 
is the way of the future. It contains a faster computer chip, to speed
processes up.

Power Surge

A sudden rise of current or voltage in an electrical circuit that can last up to several seconds. A power surge can cause damage to a computer or its files if there is no surge protector. A term all CA residents should be familiar with <g>

Powerbook

Portable Macintosh computers that are lightweight. You can take
them with you when you go to parties, summer vacations, and more!

PowerBook Duo

he same as a PowerBook, but you can toss these into "Duo Docks"
which let you feel like you are using a normal Macintosh.

PPP

Short for point-to-point protocol. It is a method of encoding data for
transmission over serial lines. Mostly used in high speed Internet
connections. (Also see "SLIP")

PRAM

Stands for Parameter RAM. A small chunk of memory where a Mac
retains settings even when the computer is turned off. You can 'zap'
(reset) the PRAM by holding down the Command, Option, P, and R
keys at startup.

Printer Driver

A program that controls how your computer and printer interact.

Printer Port

Do you have a printer? This is where you plug your printer into. This
port is on the back of your computer. There is a picture of a printer 
on top of it.

Processor-Direct Slot

An expansion connector that allows access to all the control, 
address, and data signals of the Mac's microprocessor.

Programmer

A person who writes programs.

Programs

A tool used to do things on your computer. A program can be a 
game, a word processor, screen savers, etc.

Protocol

It's a language of how computer things work, and how they talk 
to each other. For example, for downloading a file via modem
you would use X- modem, Y- modem protocols, or Z-modmem
protocols, among many others. These 2 modems are using a 
protocol, but they have to be using the same protocol to transfer
a file.

PS/2 Port

A port available on most PCs that can be used to plug in a mouse or keyboard. It has a socket for a 6-pin mini-DIN plug. 

Prototype

A model of a piece of hardware that is built for future designs.
Prototypes aren't tested well, but it gives a company an idea
of what they are going to do next generation of their products.

Public Domain

It is software that is given to the public by the developer to use
freely, without paying anything for it.