CompTIA A_ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition - Michael Meyers [506]
PDA (personal digital assistant) Handheld computer that blurs the line between calculators and computers. Early PDAs were calculators that enabled users to program in such information as addresses and appointments. Modern PDAs, such as the Palm and PocketPC, are fully programmable computers. Most PDAs use a pen/stylus for input rather than a keyboard. A few of the larger PDAs have a tiny keyboard in addition to the stylus.
Pearson VUE One of the two companies that administers the CompTIA A+ exams, along with Prometric.
peer-to-peer networks Network in which each machine can act as both a client and a server.
Pentium Name given to the fifth and later generations of Intel microprocessors; has a 32-bit address bus, 64-bit external data bus, and dual pipelining. Also used for subsequent generations of Intel processors—the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, and Pentium 4. Pentium name was retired after the introduction of the Intel Core CPUs.
pen-based computing Input method used by many PDAs that combines handwriting recognition with modified mouse functions, usually in the form of a pen-like stylus.
performance console Windows tool used to log resource usage over time.
Performance Logs and Alerts Snap-in enabling the creation of a written record of most everything that happens on the system.
Performance Options Tool allowing users to configure CPU, RAM, and virtual memory settings.
peripheral Any device that connects to the system unit.
permission propagation Term to describe what happens to permissions on an object when you move or copy it.
persistence Phosphors used in CRT screens continuing to glow after being struck by electrons, long enough for the human eye to register the glowing effect. Glowing too long makes the images smeary, and too little makes them flicker.
Personalization applet Windows Vista/7 applet with which users can change display settings such as resolution, refresh rate, color depth and also desktop features.
PGA (pin grid array) Arrangement of a large number of pins extending from the bottom of the CPU package. There are many variations on PGA.
Phillips-head screwdriver Most important part of a PC tech’s toolkit.
Phoenix Technologies Major producer of BIOS software for motherboards.
phosphor Electro-fluorescent material that coats the inside face of a cathode ray tube (CRT). After being hit with an electron, it glows for a fraction of a second.
photosensitive drum Aluminum cylinder coated with particles of photosensitive compounds. Used in a laser printer and usually contained within the toner cartridge.
picoBTX Variation of the BTX form factor. picoBTX motherboards are generally smaller than their BTX or microBTX counterparts but retain the same functionality.
pin 1 Designator used to ensure proper alignment of floppy disk drive and hard drive connectors.
ping (packet Internet groper) Slang term for a small network message (ICMP ECHO) sent by a computer to check for the presence and aliveness of another. Used to verify the presence of another system. Also the command used at a prompt to ping a computer.
PIO mode Series of speed standards created by the Small Form Factor Committee for the use of PIO by hard drives. Modes range from PIO mode 0 to PIO mode 4.
pipeline Processing methodology where multiple calculations take place simultaneously by being broken into a series of steps. Often used in CPUs and video processors.
pixel (picture element) In computer graphics, smallest element of a display space that can be independently assigned color or intensity.
plug Hardware connection with some sort of projection that connects to a port.
plug and play (PnP) Combination of smart PCs, smart devices, and smart operating systems that automatically configure all necessary system resources and ports when you install a new peripheral device.
polygons Multi-sided shapes used in 3-D rendering of objects. In computers, video cards