Purchasing a computer means have the innate ability to decipher the meaning behind a plethora of acronyms. Some of the web sites dedicated to explaining the meaning of terms that are associated with computing and technology list thousands of acronyms and their meanings. One of the primary challenges is determining which acronyms are needed to accomplish the current task.

Having a reference for the acronyms that are pertinent will shorten the time involved in deciphering.

Mega whatz?

The measurements of processor speeds and drive rotations and disk handling are fairly simple if you understand the basic meaning behind the root of each term.

Let’s start with bit and byte. The byte is a unit of storage that holds one character. It is made up of 8 bits. So when you see bit, you know that it is 1/8th the size of a byte.

Next you have to understand the kilo, mega and gig references. Very simply kilo is thousand, mega is million and gig is billion.

Now that you know the meaning behind the words you can decipher the terms as you encounter them. For example, we know that byte is a single character so one megabyte would be the space that would store 1 million bytes or 1 million characters.

Add to this the knowledge of how they are abbreviated and you will feel like you can take on any of the terms you encounter related to speed and space. MB is the abbreviation for megabyte, while Mb is the abbreviation for megabit.

Can We Call it What it is?

In an effort to make the long lists of computer components shorter, inventors of technology gave the names of the computer parts acronyms as well. There are several standard abbreviations that relate to computer configurations.

• HD – Hard drive
  
  
• RAM – Random Access Memory (this is the memory that handles the operations of your computer, while it is turned on)
  
  
• CD – Compact Disk
  
  
• OS – Operating System (Windows/Mac OS)
  
  
• USB – Universal Serial Bus (a plug on your computer that allows many types of devices to connect to your computer, including MP3 players, digital cameras, printers and other peripheral devices.

What Do I Really Need to Know?

If you are buying your own computing equipment you need to know and understand these basic terms. By looking at computers for sale by manufacturers, on the Internet, and seeing what current machines have for capabilities, you will be able to determine what the needs are for machines that you are purchasing. If you’re going to purchase your computer from a retail location, this knowledge will be invaluable because you will have confidence in your purchase decision. When a salesperson throws an acronym your way, you will be prepared to grasp what they are telling you or know what question to ask to understand.

Where Do I Go to Find Meaning?

If you are not sure what an acronym means and you want to find out there are several resource sites available on the Internet that provide assistance. Here are the most commonly used Internet research sites for definitions of technology terms:

Babel

Webopedia

Wikipedia

What Are the Current Standards?

In 2007, the following are the basic standards of a quality Windows based desktop computer:

• Intel Processor – 3.0 + GHz (800MHz or higher speed)
  
  
• Operating System – Windows XP or Windows Vista although due to compatibility issues, Windows XP is still recommended
  
  
• Memory – Minimum of 512 MB RAM, 1GB best minimum
  
  
• Hard Drives –
  Laptops = 40 GB or higher
  
  Desktops = 160GB Hard Drive (or higher)
  
  
• CD Drive – DVD-ROM/CD-RW (lets you read and write CDs and read DVDs in your computer)

Pulling it All Together

Once you know where to find the information and are empowered with the basics, your confidence will help you make decisions and understand the terms that you hear as you’re making computer-purchasing decisions.

Create a cheat sheet and take it with you when you’re shopping. This information is also helpful if you are buying from Dell or another web based computer manufacturer. Once you know your specifications, you can build a computer that meets your needs and usually, the computer that you build yourself will cost less than the recommended system that Dell or the others will build for you.