CD-RW Drive, File Downloads, CD ISOs—I need some answers to the FAQ’s!
If you are a “newbie” to the tech field, look below for the answers to your most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)!
- BlackBerry: name brand of PDA
- CD: “compact disk” holds lots of information, photos, text, etc. (more than a hard disk)
- CDR: “compact disk readable” a one-time use CD that you can store information
- CD-RW: “compact disk readable writable” a CD that you can use repeatedly to store information, take info off and put on new stuff again and again
- DVD: “digital video disk” a disk that looks like a CD, but is formatted differently and are commonly used for movies and photos
- DVR: a DVD which is readable and you can download information onto them
- Flash drive: (aka: thumb drive or jump drive) a portable way of compacting your information which are very convenient because they are durable and tiny, come in lots of different sizes, and depending on the size they could easily hold thousands of pages of information
- GPS: “global positioning system” a mini computerized map that links up with a satellite and tells you exactly where you are and how to get to the next place you want to go
- iPod: one of a family of devices called MP3 players
- MP3 file: a way of storing music digitally. Many of the smaller MP3 players have no moving parts, so even vigorous exercise can't produce any skips in your music.
- Palm Pilot: a brand of PDA
- PDA: literally a “portable digital assistant”. Telephone, mini-computer, voicemail, calendar, calculator, games all in something that fits in the palm of your hand
- Podcasting: one of the latest trends, where people record their own radio-like programs in MP3 format and put them up on the Internet for you to download and enjoy.
- Razr phone: a super thin cell phone
- TIVO: records, fast forwards and pauses while you are watching live TV
- Wikipedia: online free content encyclopedia that anybody can edit
Lingo Help
Are you crazy from all the acronyms that are being tossed around lately?
Here is a list for beginners who are trying to decipher what the IM message really says.
- AFK—Away from computer keyboard
- AIM—AOL Instant Messenger
- ASAP—As soon as possible
- A/S/L— Age/Sex/Location
- BBS—Be back soon
- BC—Because
- BCNU—Be Seein' You
- BFN—Bye for now
- BG—Big grin
- BRB—Be right back
- CUL8R—See you later
- DYOH—Do your own homework
- FAQ—Frequently asked questions
- IDK—I don't know
- IIRC—If I recall correctly
- IM—Instant message
- IMHO—In my humble opinion
- IMO—In my opinion
- JK—Just kidding
- KIS—Keep it simple
- L8TR—Later
- LOL—Laughing out loud
- NBD—No big deal
- NP—No problem
- OIC—Oh I see
- OTOH—On the other hand
- ROFL—Rolling on the floor laughing
- RUOK—Are you okay
TAFN…That's all for now, but check the websites below for lots more of the 411 that will take even the newest “newbie” and turn them into a real techie geek!
Websites
- Check this great website for more definitions used in IM messages: http://www.aim.com/fun
- Great website that gives lots of information on the Internet, email, browsers and a whole lot more: www.internet101.org
- A non-denominational church in Washington who has gathered some good introductory level technology information: www.valleypoint.org/resources.html
- You know those pesky little “faces” that keep popping up everywhere like ;-)). Figure out how to do lots of them by clicking on this link: http://www.computeruser.com/resources/dictionary/emoticons.html
- Find a little more information on any of the above topics: http://www.geeksquad.com/centralintelligence/
- For the Geek, the whole Geek and nothing but the Geek: http://www.gizmodo.com/about/
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