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Glossary Terms: D
- Data port (PC/Fax data jack)
- An extra jack that enables you to plug other communications devices such as a PC modem or fax machine into your phone system. This eliminates the hassle of disconnecting and reconnecting cords.
- DDR SDRAM
- Double Data Rate Sychronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. A type of computer memory (RAM) that effectively doubles the efficiency of SDRAM memory by enabling chip operations to occur on the rising and falling edge of the computer's processing clock. Transfers data at approximately 200–266MHz and uses a DIMM board construction.
- Delayed transmission
- A document is stored in memory and transmitted at a later time. A fax machine with this feature can be set to transmit the document at a time when phone rates are low, such as at night, thereby saving money on the call.
- Desktop clean up wizard
- The desktop clean up wizard periodically checks your desktop and gives you the opportunity to remove your unused shortcuts.
- Device driver rollback
- Provides the capability of replacing an unstable device driver (does not include printer drivers) with a previously installed version that you knew was working. This helps you focus on a particular device that is causing you problems rather than dealing with your entire system.
- Digital answering machine
- Takes messages from callers when you don't answer the phone. There are no tapes, so it's easy to skip a message in either direction, and you can usually delete or save specific calls. A useful feature of digital answering is the "time/date stamp," which lets you know exactly when a message was left.
- Digital camera memory
- Measured in megabytes (MB), or approximately 1 million bytes. The more memory a digital camera has, the more images it can store. Some digital camera memory is removable (such as CompactFlash, SmartMedia, or Memory Stick), which makes it easier to transport images, send them to a developer, and upgrade memory capacity.
- Digital security codes
- A digital system that prevents an unauthorized user from using a phone line.
- Digital spread spectrum
- Certain cordless phones have this technology to give them greater range and sound clarity.
- Digital transfer
- Copying method in which copied image is converted into digital signals and then printed on a page. Digital copies are often of a higher quality than electrostatic transfer copies.
- Digital zoom
- Digital cameras have both optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom actually magnifies the image, while digital zoom grabs an array of pixels in the middle of the scene and processes them to make the image look enlarged. For this reason, optical zoom produces a sharper, truer image.
- DIMM
- Dual In–line Memory Module. A type of RAM designed used by SDRAM and DDR SDRAM cards that use a special arrangement of pins to connect to a compatible computer's motherboard. DIMM connectors are very common and, unlike SIMMs, can be installed one at a time.
- Directory
- A common feature that comes with Auto Attendant. It gives outside callers the ability to dial the extensions or names of the people they are trying to reach. Once the system recognizes the information it will connect the caller.
- Display
- A term used to describe the monitor on a laptop. There are a few basic types of displays: dual–scan, HPA (High–Performance Addressing) and active matrix. Dual–scan displays are usually less expensive. HPA displays are also less costly and maximize battery life. Active matrix displays offer high–grade visual quality and can be viewed from an angle.
- DLT
- Digital Linear Tape. A sturdy, nearly damage–proof storage device that holds approximately 35 GB of data uncompressed, and 70 GB compressed. Designed for holding large amounts of data, such as backing up an entire hard drive or network when moving an entire office to a new location.
- Dock-to-dock delivery
- Dock–to–dock delivery consists of the motor–freight company backing the truck to a trailer–height dock. The customer then provides the equipment and labor to unload the safe from the trailer. Call 1–800–333–3330 for additional delivery service options and costs.
- Docking cradle
- A device that connects a handheld (via a USB cable) to a computer for application downloads and synchronization (e.g, instant updating of the calendar, task manager, and address book). A docking cradle usually doubles as a battery charger as well.
- Docking station
- A piece of hardware that lets users instantly connect a laptop to multiple accessories and peripherals, including an AC adapter, monitor, and printer.
- Dot matrix
- A popular early impact printer that used a grid of tiny pins to transfer ink from a ribbon to the page. Dot matrix printers can produce basic graphics but are inferior compared to an inkjet printer.
- Dot pitch
- Describes the amount of space between individual pixels on a computer monitor. The lower the dot pitch, the better the resolution (the sharper the images).
- Double-wall construction
- A storage box/drawer that has walls made of two–ply corrugated fiberboard.
- DPI
- Dots per inch. Describes the number of dots per square inch that a printer is capable of printing horizontally and vertically. DPI is also a measure of resolution for scanners and digital cameras.
- Drive bay
- An opening in a desktop or laptop computer where floppy, CD–ROM, CD–RW, tape, Zip, or DVD drives can be inserted. The number of drive bays varies by computer manufacturer and model.
- Driver software
- The software that enables your operating system to properly build and format commands and data bound for your printer; in effect, a print driver tells your operating system all that it needs to know to operate your printer.
- DSL
- Digital Subscriber Line. High–speed Internet access that is up to 25 times faster than dial–up. Though it operates through a user's existing phone line, DSL doesn't tie up the phone and allows for incoming and outgoing calls. There are two types of Digital Subscriber Lines: ADSL, which receives information faster than it sends it and is more popular with consumers, and SDSL, which provides the same speed in both directions and is more popular with businesses.
- Dual cartridge
- An inkjet printer that can accommodate two ink cartridges at the same time: one black and one color. Dual–cartridge printers are more expensive than single systems, but they are faster and can automatically switch between black–and–white and color.
- Dual scan
- Allows a fax machine to send and receive faxes simultaneously. For example, a user can scan an outgoing fax into memory while a fax is being received. The scanned fax is then sent directly from memory when the phone line becomes free.
- Dual-outlet adapters
- Allow you to use a second telephone device or office machine with a single one–line or two–line jack.
- DualView
- DualView allows two monitors to host the Windows desktop, while being driven off of a single display adapter. In the case of laptop computers, this could be the internal LCD display as well as an external monitor. For desktops, there are a variety of high–end display adapters that will support this functionality.
- Duplexing
- Feature that enables a copier or printer to automatically create two–sided copies or prints.
- DVD drive
- A device with increased capacity over CD–ROM Drives (DVDs can store from 4.7 to 17GB of information). Used for both entertainment and computer use, DVD drives can also read CDs. DVDs use the latest technology for improved multi–media gaming and for playing DVD movies.
- Dynamic range
- Measures the quality of tone reproduction on a scale of 0–5, with "0" being white and "5" being black. Most color flatbed scanners have a dynamic range between 2 and 2.5. Some higher–end flatbeds have a dynamic range of 3.
- Dynamic update
- Provides you with different application and device compatibility updates, some driver updates, and emergency fixes for setup or security issues at operating system setup to help you keep your operating system current and functioning smoothly.