The following are some of the terms that are most often encountered when working with the Macintosh. You must know these for the first and subsequent exams. *** means the definition is very important, ** means the definition is important, * means the definition is less important.
active window*
The window in which the next action will take place. The active window is always on top of all other windows and there are six horizontal lines on either side of the title. You make a window active by clicking on it. The active window looks like this:
An inactive window looks like this:
alarm box*
A standard Apple-supplied desk accessory that lets you sound an alarm at a given time. (If the Mac is off at that time, you can find out about the alarm when you turn the Mac back on.) If the apple is blinking the alarm is going off. By the way, the most common question people have about the Macintosh is ÒWhy is the apple blinking?Ó
alert box*
A box that appears unbidden on the screen, announced by one or more beeps, to give you information. You do not have to take any action except to click on the box or hit return.
apple menu***
The Apple menu usually appears at the extreme left end of the menu bar. The menu gives you access to apple menu items (called desk accessories in system 6.x) and information about the current application.
application (or application program)**
Software that does relatively complex tasks and that lets you create and modify documents. This definition may not apply to other computers such as IBM, Apple, etc.
backspace*
Now called the delete key. The backspace or delete key removes selected material such as text or graphics.
backup***
The noun is a copy of a program or document. The verb implies the action of making a copy.
bit***
The smallest possible unit of information (yes or no, on or off, or 0 or 1). Eight bits are a byte.
bit-mapped font**
A font made up of dots. To get the better quality on the dot matrix printers such as the Image Writer use the fonts that are outlined like this. To get the best quality on dot matrix printers use a size is one half the size of an outlined font and print at best quality. The font menu looks like this:
bit-mapped graphic**
A picture or other graphic made up of dots. See laser font for a picture of bit-mapped and laser fonts.
bomb*
A message box with a picture of a bomb in it. It appears to tell you have a problem with the system. Usually you have to push the restart switch (or turn the computer off and then turn it on again) to get the computer to work
booting***
Starting up a computer by loading an operating system into its memory. If the system is loading you will see a startup screen (usually a picture of a computer with a smile).
box*
1. An enclosed area on the Mac's screen that doesn't have a title bar.
2. Any of various rectangular icons that control windows-like close boxes and scroll boxes. Here is a close box:
3. A rectangular button.
bug***
Some part of a program that does not work correctly or the way that it should. At times a bug will cause the computer to freeze or a program to quit.
button
On the Mac's screen, an outlined area in a dialog box that you click on to do something
A button with a heavy border, which is activated when you hit Return or Enter, is called the default button. Below are some of the buttons you will see:
bytes, KB, MB and GB***
A bytes is a measure of information that a computer uses in the computer memory and disk space. Kilobyte, KB, is used for 1000 bytes, Megabyte, MB, is used for 1,000 kilobytes or 1,000,000 or 106 bytes and Gigabytes, GB, is used for 1,000 megabytes or 1,000,000,000 or 109 bytes.
If you want to impress people you should remember that in computing a K is equal to 210 bytes or about 1024 characters, or about 170 words. In addition, all mesurements of memory and storage are done to the base 2.
calculator
A desk accessory that you find under the ð menu that works like a calculator. You can cut and paste to and from it. Calculators can be simple or very complex.
control panel device**
control panel devices carry out some function whenever the computer is on. For example, the clock or the screen saver. In system 7.x You can control the program by selecting control panels in the system folder, and then clicking on the icon of the control panel device.
CDEV
A name for a control panel device. This older nomenclature was used in system 6.x and previous systems.
CD ROM***
Stands for Compact disk, Read Only Memory. Information can be held on a compact disk and read into the computer. Compact disks hold large amounts of information, usually more than 500 MB, but the information on the disk can not be altered.
checkboxes
A box or group of boxes that work as toggles-that is, when you click on an checkbox, you can turn the option on or off. When the option is on an x appears in the box.
chooser***
A desk accessory primarily used to tell the Mac which printer you want to use, what port its' connected to, whether background printing is turned on and whether AppleTalk is active or inactive.
Clipboard**
When you select words or graphics and select the command cut or copy from the edit menu, the material selected is placed in the clipboard and can be put into the same document in another place, or into another document, by using the command paste from the edit menu.
Command Key***
This key is the third key on the bottom left hand side of the keyboard. It has a cloverleaf (and sometimes an apple) on it. This key is used in combination with other keys to issue commands. For example, in most Mac applications, Cloverleaf N opens a new document. It looks like this:
commercial**
Said of computer programs sold in stores or mail order houses for profit. Many stores will give you a 30 or 60 exchange period. As a general rule do not lay out money for an unknown program unless you can return or exchange it.
copying**
Duplicating something from a document and placing the duplicate in the Clipboard. To do that, you select what you want to copy and then choose Copy from the Edit menu.
CPU***
Stands for central processing unit. The place where the data are processed according a set of instructions. The CPU will usually determine how fast the computer runs. On IBM and IBM compatibles the CPUs are, in order of speed, 286, 386, 486 and pentinum. On Macintosh computers the CPUs are, in order of speed, 68000, 68020, 68030, 68040, 601, 603 and 604. The 286 (on IBM) and the 68000 and 68020 (on Macintosh) are too slow to be useful in today's environment.
crash***
Either a noun and or a verb. If you say ÒI had a crashÓ you mean that your system has suddenly and unexpectedly stopped working. Sometimes you will see a dialog box that says there is something wrong, sometimes the computer will not allow you to do anything more.
cutting***
Removing something from a document by selecting it and then choosing Cut.
(the) desktop***
What the Mac's screen displays when you're in the Finder.
One way to tell if you're on the desktop-that is, if you're in the Finder-is to look for the Trash in the lower right corner.
desktop file
A file that contains information like the size, shape and locations of windows on a disk. This file takes up room on a disk. When you first initialize a disk it contains about 7K of information. Most programs will not display the information in the desktop file.
dialog box
A box on the screen requesting information, or a decision, from you.
disk***
The type will normally use is a floppy, 3.5 inch double sided, high density (HD) disks. There are 5.25 inch disks, hard drive disks, 3.5 inch HD disks and others, Syquest disks Zip disks and others. The advantage of the 3.5 inch HD disk is that it can be used in both the new models of the IBM and the Macintosh.
disk drive***
A device that reads information from, and writes information onto, disks. The two main types are floppy disk drives and hard disk drives.
document*
What you create and modify with an application (such as Wordª, Excel or Lighting Paint). You normally will name a document when you save it.
dos ***
Short for PC Disk Operating System or Microsoft Disk Operating System-the operating system used on IBM Personal Computers and compatible machines. The current version is 6.22.
dots per inch**
A measure of screen or printer resolution the number of dots in a line one inch long. Abbreviated dpi. See laser fonts for an illustration.
Edit menu*
In the Finder and in most applications, the third menu from the left on the menu bar. It typically contains commands for cutting, copying, pasting, undoing, etc.
file*
Most of the time either a document or an application. Information that is kept together on a disk and has one name.
Finder***
The program you use to manage files and disks and to get to the files. On other computer the finder (and the system and part of the memory) is called the operating system. There are also Finder substitutes.
Font/DA Mover
A utility program used for installing, removing and moving fonts and desk accessories in all systems before system 7.0. System 7.0 allows you to put fonts and desk accessories into the system by dragging the font or accessory to the system folder.
formatting***
1. All the characteristics of text other than the actual characters that make it up. Formatting includes things like boldface, italics, type size, margins, line spacing, justification and so on.
2. Another term for initializing a disk.
freeware***
Software you can use, copy and distribute without cost. Another name for this software is public-domain software.
freeze**
When the computer refuses to accept any input from the mouse or the keyboard. This is a type of a crash. Usually you need to turn off the computer and turn it back on again to get the computer to work again. Also called a hang.
gigabyte***
About one thousand megabytes.
hang
Same as a freeze.
hard disk (or hard disk drive or hard drive)***
The most common storage device next to the floppy disk. This is the file cabinet of the computer. All the information, files, programs and other stuff you save and use is stored here. Work much faster than floppy disks. Currently a 200 MB drive is considered moderate and a 1,000 MB (also called gigabyte) drive is large.
highlighting***
Making something stand out from its background in order to show that it's selected, chosen or active. Here is an example of text that is highlighted (high lit?)
(The) I beam
The place where you start to insert text. It looks like this:
icons***
Symbols which usually stands for a file, folder, disk or tool. Here are some common icons:
Image Writer*
An inexpensive line of dot-matrix printers sold by Apple for use with Macs. May not be the inexpensive printer of choice. Ink jet printers will be more useful in most cases, except when multiple copies will be required. The lab at Cal State uses dot-matrix printers because the per page cost is about one cent per page compared to about eight cents per page for an ink jet printer. Although the initial cost of Laser writers is higher, the cost per page is lower if you print more than about 5,000 pages per year because the cost of supplies per page is lower.
init
A program that you put it into your system folder. Inits are read into the System and alter the way things work. Similar to CDEV.
initializing***
Preparing a disk for use on the Macintosh.
ink jet printer*
A printer that sprays ink on the paper to produce an image. Most of these produce output that is similar to a laser printer at 300 dpi. They are much less expensive to buy than a laser printer, but each page costs more to print. The output is not quite as sharp on inkjets when compared to laser printers. Some ink jet printers will print in color. The Style writer by Apple, the Desk writer by Hewlett-Packard and the Epson Stylus cost about the same amount of money, but give much better looking output than dot matrix printers.
insertion point***
The place in a document where the next keystroke will add or delete text. The insertion point is represented by a blinking vertical line and is placed by clicking with the I-beam pointer.
Kilobyte or K***
A measure of information that a computer uses in the computer memory and disk space. About 1000 bytes. Kilo is used for 100. Actually in computing a K is equal to 1010 or 1024 characters, or about 170 words.
laser font**
Another font that will print well on both dot matrix (72 dpi) and laser (300 dpi) printers.
laser printer***
A computer printer works like a photocopying machine. Usually prints at 300 dots per inch compared to a dot matrix printer that prints at 72 dpi. Gives smoother fonts and graphics.
list box
A box with scroll bars that appears within a dialog box or other window and lists things-files, fonts or whatever. The Open and Save As dialog boxes each contain a list box.
logging on***
Connecting to a computer network. At the CSUB MacLab we use a program called Alicia to log on to a network and call up programs.
macro*
A command that includes two or more other commands or actions. There are programs that create macros. Macros save time. For example, you can develop a macro that will check the time and save your work at a specified interval.
megabyte or MB or Meg***
A measure of information that a computer uses in the computer memory and disk space. A megabyte is equal to about one million bytes. Mega is used for million. Really 1024K, or about 175,000 words.
Megahertz**
Is a measure of how fast the data moves through a computer's circuits. Refers to the number of cycles per second. The 68000 processor has a speed of 8 MHz, the most recent Mac has a speed of more than 200 MHz.
memory***
The information held inside the computer on chips. There are two types of memory: RAM (Random Access Memory), holds information until computer is turned off, and ROM (Read Only Memory), stores information that is not changed.
message box
A box that appears unbidden on the screen to give you information. A message box does not require any information back from you. Some books call this an alert box.
MS DOS***
The first and the most popular operating system used on IBM PCs and compatible computers. Windows, an operating system that makes the IBM work somewhat like a Macintosh, works on top of MS DOS. The newest version of Windows, Windows 95, no longer uses MS DOS.
Multifinder*
An option that can be used in System 6 that allows you to run more than one program at a time. In System 7 you must run under multifinder.
If you are using multifinder you will see an icon of the current open program in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
object-oriented graphic**
A picture or other graphic where each object is treated as a unit. The types of programs that do this are called draw programs. The type of program that treats pictures as if they are made up of little dots is called a paint program.
In a paint program you can change the picture dot by dot. Therefore if you want to change a circle to an arc, you can erase part of the circle. In a draw program, something must be done with the entire circle.
opening***
Expanding an icon, or a name in a list box, to a window-usually by double clicking on it. With disk icons and folders, this happens on the desktop. With document icons, the application that created the icon is launched first, then the document is opened within it.
If you do not have the application that created the document you will receive an alert box telling you so. Sometimes you can still open the document by opening another program and then opening the document. For example, if you use MacWrite to create a document, and then work on a computer that does not have MacWrite installed, you will not be able to open the document you created in MacWrite by double clicking on it. Instead, open another word-processing program (for example, Wordª) and then try opening the document you created in MacWrite. The second word-processing program may be able to read the MacWrite document and open it.
menu title***
Both the name by which a menu is called and the way you access it. Menu titles are arranged across the top of the screen in the menu bar when you point to one and hold down the mouse button, the menu pops down.
modem***
A piece of hardware that converts the digital code used by the computer to a frequency that can be sent over a phone line. The computer can then connect to other computers anywhere in the world in order to send or receive information. The speed with which the information is transferred is expressed by the number of bits per second transferred, or bps. These rates run from 300 to 28,800 bps. The Baud rate, in turn, is related to the bps. In general, 1 baud is equal to 1, 2 or 4 bps.
operating system***
The software that controls a computer's operation. On the Macintosh the system is made up of System program on a disk, the ROMs inside the computer, the Finder program and related software.
outline font*
A font made up of an outline (based on a mathematical description of the curves) of the shape or each letter. These fonts can be scaled to any size without loss of quality. See the definition of laser font for an example of an outline font.
A program by sold by Adobe, ÒAdobe Type Manager,Ó allows you to use outline fonts on almost any printer. Previously outline fonts had to be used on a laser writer which supported Postscript.
paint*
A standard graphics format for low-resolution (72-dots per inch) bit-mapped images. Higher resolution formats include EPS, PICT and TIFF.
parameter RAM
A portion of the Mac's Random Access Memory that stores Control Panel settings and other basic information. It is powered by a small internal lithium battery so that the information in this part of the memory is not lost when the computer is turned off. Also called PRAM.
PC**
A name for IBM and IBM Clones.
Pentium***
The newest version of the Intel line of microprocessors. Found in the most expensive IBM and IBM clones.
PICT (pronounced picked)*
A standard graphics format for object-oriented graphics. The original format supported eight colors, but the current format, PICT2, supports full 32-bit color. Almost everything uses PICT2 now. Other high resolution graphic formats include EPS and TIFF. Low resolution formats include paint.
Postscript*
A computer language that allows high precision and resolution in printed output.
PowerBooks
The name of the portable Macintosh computer. If the PowerBook uses a RISC chip will it be called a Power PowerBook?
PowerMacs
The newest line of Macintosh computers that make use of RISC chip. Fast and expensive. To get the most out of these computers programs have to be written to take advantage of the chip and you need more than 16MB of memory.
Price*
The improvements on computers come fast and furious. The speed with which a computer can carry out operations is constantly being increased. This means the price of computing is constantly dropping. For example, the first Mac released in 1984 had 128K of memory, 400 K of storage and ran at a clock speed of 8 MHz. It cost $5,000 (in today's dollars) then and is worth about $120 now. For about $5,000 today you can buy a computer with 100 times the memory, 200 times the storage, that runs about 30 times faster than the first Mac.
program***
A group of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Also called software and software programs, although the latter term is redundant.
public-domain***
Said of products you have the right to copy, use, give away and sell, without having to pay any money for the right. Also called freeware.
RAM***
Stands for random access memory. While the hard drive is the filing cabinet, RAM is your desk - the place where you do your work, i.e., store the information needed to run a program. Bigger programs need bigger memories. The memory is temporary and when you shut off the computer all the information stored in the computer is lost unless it is saved to a disk or other storage device. Most computers today run with at least 4 MB, but 16 MB is better. The most useful way to upgrade a computer is to increase the memory.
RAM cache (pronounced cash)*
An area of random access memory reserved for information recently read in from disk. If this information is needed again, it can be gotten from memory more quickly than it can be gotten from the disk. You set the RAM cache from the control panel.
restart**
To cause a computer to reload its operating system from disk, but without turning off the power. When you restart, you lose all work that you haven't saved.
RISC*
Stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computing. Refers to the way in which the microprocessor in the computer carries out instructions. Also refers to the microprocessor found in the latest IBM's and Macintoshes. This type of chip has the ability to work at much higher speeds than older chips which use Complex Instruction Sets.
ROM (pronounced rahm)*
The part of a computer's memory used to store programs that are seldom, if ever, changed. You can read this information, but you can not write information in this part of the memory. A ROM chip is usually called a ROM.
Scrapbook*
A desk accessory that stores material permanently and gives you easy access to it no matter what program you're in.
screen saver*
A program designed to stop the screen from having characters burnt into it. These programs black out the screen after a certain amount of time. Any action on the computer, such as hitting a key or moving the mouse button brings you back to where you were before the screen saver was activated.
SCSI(usually pronounced scuzzy)**
An abbreviation for small computer system interface. A standard that allows for transfer of information from hard drives and other input devices to the Mac. This standard has been in place since the introduction of the SE. The Mac Plus does not make use of SCSI ports, and transfers information more slowly than newer Macs.
A new standard is making its way into the market. The new standard, SCSI 2, is faster than the SCSI.
selecting***
Telling the Mac what part of a document, picture or other object you want change by the next command or action. Remember that selecting--in and of itself--never alters anything. Also remember you always have to select something before you can do anything to it.
shareware***
Software that's you're allowed to try out and copy for others. You only pay a fee if you decide you want to continue using it.
shift-clicking
Holding down the (Shift) key while clicking the mouse button. Shift-clicking allows you to select multiple objects or large amounts of text, depending on the application.
680XX (sixty-eight thousand)***
A designation for the central processing unit (contained on a chip) used in computers manufactured by Apple. The 68000 was used in the original 128K Mac, the 512K Mac, the Mac Plus, the SE, the classic, the Portable and some Mac printers. It is no longer used in any computer manufactured by Apple. The 680XX family includes the 68020 used on the Mac LC, the 68030, and the. The 680XX chip is being supplanted by a RISC chip, produced by an alliance between Macintosh, IBM and Motorola. Computers in the Macintosh line which use this chip are called PowerMacs.
The CPU used in IBM and IBM clones is manufactured by Intel. The Intel 286 is comparable to the 68000, the 386 is comparable to the 68030, the 486 is comparable to the 68040 and the new Pentium is comparable, but slower than the RISC chip.
startup disk*
The disk that contains the System file and the Finder the Mac is currently using. Most modern computers use a hard drive that contains the System file and the finder and a separate startup disk is not needed.
suitcase file (or simply suitcase)
A file that stores fonts or desk accessories, and is identified in the Finder by its suitcase-shaped icon. In System 6 and previous systems you add and remove fonts or desk accessories with Font/DA Mover. In System 7.x you put the suitcase into the System Folder.
System file (or simply the System)***
The basic program the Mac uses to start itself and to provide certain information, such as where to put windows, scroll bars and the like, to all applications. The System file launches itself when you start up the Mac and insert a disk that contains it. Together with the Finder, the System file comprises what - on other computers - is called the operating system.
system folder*
A standard folder on Mac disks that contains the System file, the Finder and other system software.
title bar*
The horizontal strip at the top of a window that contains its name. When the window is active, it's filled with six horizontal stripes and has a close box. To move a window, you drag it by the title bar.
The menu is found above the title bar.
Error! No index entries found.
Windows***
A program developed by Microsoft that allows newer models of the IBM and IBM clones to work like a Mac. This program works on top of DOS and requires a 386 or 486 to run at a reasonable speed. The latest version of Windows, called Windows 95 (released in August of 95), does not use DOS and requires at least a 486 processor and 8 MB of RAM. It occupies more than 50 MB in storage.
Older IBM's still use DOS which is a command driven system. In order to work these computers you have to memorize a series of keyboard commands.
zoom box*
A small box on the right side of the title bar of most windows. Clicking on the zoom box expands the window to fill the screen clicking again returns it to its original size and shape.