progr.un
disk:
A disk containing an operating
system
and
a self-starting program.
programmer:
A person
who
writes computer
programs.
prompt:
A symbol, message,
or
menu that asks
you for a response
or
indicates
Lhat
you can lake an
action.
RAM: See
random-access
memory.
RAM
card:
A card that
expands
the memo!)'
of
your Apple
beyond
128K. With more memory,
you can work with larger application programs
and
create larger files.
random-access
memory
(RA.M):
Memory in
which information can
be
referred to in an
arbitrary or random order.
As
an analogy, a
book
is
a random-access Storage device, because you
can
open
it
and
read at any point. RA.\1 usually
means the part
of
memory that you can both add
public
domain
software:
Uncopyrighted
softwue
Lhat
you
can
copy, use,
and
distribute without a
licensing agreement. Such software
is
usually free
or
available at a modest fee from user groups
or
through
computer
bulletin
board
systems.
pull-down
menu:
A menu that remains hidden
until you click its
title (using a mouse).
QWERTY
keyboard:
The standard layout
of
keys
on
a typewriter keyboard. Its name comes from the
first
six letters
on
the top row
of
the letter keys.
Compare DvorAk
keyboard.
radio-frequency
interference:
Any
clcrtrical
signaltllat
can interfere wilh the
proper
operation
of
electrical
or
electronic
equipment.
radlo·frequency
(RF)
modubtor:
A device that
converts
data from the computer for display
on
a
television set.
-.
-
information to and read information from. Any
data in
RAM
disappears
when
the computer
is
turned
ofT.
Also called temporary, main,
or
workIng memory. (Technically, read-only
memory
IROM)
is
also random access,
and
what's
called
RAM
should
correctly be termed read-write
memory.) Compare read-.Qnly
memory,
read-
write
memory.
read:
To
get information from a disk and put
it
in
memory.
read-only
memory
(ROM):
Permanent memory;
its contents do
not
disappear
when
the
power
is
turned off. Applesoft
BASIC
is
stored
in
ROM,
as
are the computer's startup routines.
read-write
head:
111e
mechanism inside the disk
drive that gets information from disks and records
information
on
disks.
read-write
memory:
Memory whose contents
can
be both read and changed
(or
written
to).
The
information contained in read-write
memo!)'
is
erased when the computer's
power
is
turned
olT
and
is
permanently lost, unless
it
has
been
saved
on
disk.
remote
computer:
A computer connected to your
computer
whether
directly by a cable
or
through
telephone
lines.
Reset: A key that,
when
pressed
in
combination
with otlter keys, halts what the computer
is
doing.
What happens next
depends
on
the panicular keys
pressed with Reset.
restart:
Stan the
computer
again.
Return,
A key that moves the cursor to
Lhe
beginning
of
the next line. Many programs
interpret Return to mean that you've finished
doing something
and
are
ready
to
proceed.
Compare
Enter
key.
Glossary156
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