Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary or type the term on which you want to search.

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alias

the use of an icon as a method of starting an application, opening a folder, file or disk. With Macintosh products the alias may be placed anywhere that is convenient such as the Apple menu, the desktop, or a special folder. The title of an alias icon is in italics. In Windows, an alias is known as a shortcut. see shortcut.

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align

to arrange characters, words or images so they line up either horizontally or vertically. Most word processing and drawing programs include commands to make images and text align as needed.

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allocation unit

units of space on a disk that can be identified or designated for a file. Also known as a cluster.

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Alpha

a 64-bit microprocessor manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation.

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alpha testing

the first round of the testing of new software.

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alphanumeric characters

the letters and digits on the standard keyboard.

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Alt

the prefix used for the “Alternative” key. It is used like the shift key. The result of using the Alt key will vary depending upon the software being used.

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Alta Vista

a popular search engine on the World Wide Web.

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amazon.com

a commercial Website offering more than one million books and music CDs. The company is determined to maintain a dominant position as an online retailer through the expansion of services including auctions, electronic products, toys, and more.

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AMD

(Advanced Micro Devices) a worldwide semiconductor manufacturer who’s products include a wide variety of industry-standard integrated circuits used in product applications such as telecommunications equipment, data and network communications equipment, consumer electronics, personal computers, and workstations.