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Glossary Terms: M
- Mailbox
- A common voicemail feature allowing users to receive messages in their own personalized mailboxes. Typically, each mailbox can be customized with greetings and passwords.
- Materials
- Most shredders are capable of shredding paper products only, excluding crumpled or laminated paper. High–end specialty shredders can destroy credit cards, audio and videocassettes, computer disks and CD–ROMS.
- Mbps
- Megabits per second. Measures data transmission speeds. A speed of 1 Mbps means that approximately one million bits of information are transmitted per second.
- Medium ruled
- Has 9/32" spacing between each line. 34 lines per page.
- Megabytes
- The standard measure of computer, digital camera, hanheld, diskette, Zip disk, and CD memory size. 1 megabyte is roughly equivalent to 1 million bytes. Computer RAM upgrades typically range from 32 to 256MB. Digital cameras typically come with between 2 and 16 megabytes of built–in memory, though they can be upgraded by 32 or 64 megabytes. 8 megabytes will store approximately 10 images at a 1600x1200–pixel resolution.
- Megahertz
- Measures data processing speed. 1 MHz is equal to one million hertz, or one million cycles per second.
- Megapixels
- Digital–camera resolution is measured in megapixels — or one million pixels. This means that a one–megapixel digital camera can create images with one million pixels, or distinct color dots. The higher a camera's megapixel rating, the larger the pictures it can produce or print at full resolution. A 1 to 1.9 megapixel camera produces 3"x5" prints at full resolution; a 2 to 2.9 megapixel camera produces 5"x7" prints at full resolution; a 3 to 3.9 megapixel camera produces 8"x10" prints; a 4 to 5 megapixel camera produces 11"x14" prints; a 5 to 6+ megapixel camera produces 13"x19" prints.
- Memory (RAM)
- Random Access Memory. Allows a computer user to run multiple applications and switch between them in an instant. The greater a computer's RAM, the more applications it can handle, the faster it can run software, and the greater protection against system crashes.
- Memory stick
- A removable memory device that's roughly the size and shape of a stick of gum. It doesn't have as much storage as CompactFlash, but it can be inserted into a floppy disk adapter and read and stored on a floppy drive.
- Micro perforation
- Small perforations that are nearly invisible when pages are attached or removed from the pad. Prevents raw edges.
- Microsoft incident submission
- You can automatically submit an electronic support incident to Microsoft, collaborate with support engineers, and manage your submitted incidents.
- MMC card
- Multimedia Memory card. A removable memory card that is about the size of a stamp. Often used to expand memory in MMC–compatible handhelds, digital cameras, digital video camcorders, smart phones, car navigation systems, and electronic books.
- Mobile surge protector
- A lightweight, portable surge protector that is designed to protect notebook computers and that is small enough to fit in a pocket of a notebook carrying case. It typically includes one power outlet and up to three phone cord ports for Internet connections.
- Modem
- An electronic device that allows computer users to "dial–up" to the Internet, use email, and send faxes. The most common kinds of modems are 56K (dial–up), cable and DSL. A 56K modem provides access to the Web and to email via existing phone lines. Cable and DSL modems connect to the Internet with higher speeds than 56K modems — and without the need for dialing up to get service.
- Monitor
- A display screen, usually for a computer. Available in different screen sizes and types, including flat screens and Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD). Monitors come in three different color capabilities: monochrome (which displays two colors — one in the background, one in the foreground), grayscale (similar to monochrome, but can display shades of gray), and color.
- Monitor surge protector
- Designed to fit beneath a computer monitor, or in some cases to attach to the side of the viewing screen. It allows for easy power protection of peripherals and includes a master switch to power up or power down your entire system easily.
- Monochrome printer
- A printer that prints in only one color, usually black. Some monochrome printers can also produce text and graphics in shades of gray, as well as strict black–and–white.
- Motherboard
- The main circuit board inside a computer that usually, among other things, houses the CPU (central processing unit), expansion slots, and the hardware necessary to control such peripherals as the monitor display and keyboard. On most computers, you can make memory chip upgrades directly on the motherboard.
- Mouse
- A device that moves the cursor or pointer on a computer screen. Different types of mice include multi–button, optical (which has no moving parts and uses a laser instead of a tracking ball to detect the movement of the mouse), roller ball and cordless models.
- MP3
- A compression standard for audio files. An MP3 file can be sent over the Internet and played on a computer, handheld device, or stand–alone MP3 player.
- MPEG
- A compression standard for video files. An MPEG video file can be sent over the Internet or played on a computer or handheld, or captured and played on some digital cameras.
- Multi-lingual user interface
- (MUI) Change the user interface language to get localized dialog boxes, menus, help files, dictionaries, proofing tools, etc.
- Multi-tasking
- Allows multiple applications to run simultaneously.
- Multi-user capability
- Usually means more than one call can be made simultaneously from a particular phone system. Also means a single–line system can be configured to have more than one unit.
- Multifunctional devices
- Many fax machines can be connected to a computer to serve as a printer and/or a computer scanner.
- Mute button
- Feature that allows a phone user to mute his or her own outgoing voice signal while still hearing the voice of the person they're talking to.
- My music
- Enables you to quickly view a list of music files in a folder and perform basic management tasks such as retrieving, adding, sorting, and deleting music files. NEW – It is now task–based to help you work more efficiently.
- My pictures
- Enables you to quickly view a list of photos in a folder and perform basic management tasks like adding, sorting, and deleting picture files. NEW – Now you have the ability to:
- Order prints directly from the Internet
- Link to camera and scanner wizard for fast access
- View images in slideshow format
- Publish pictures to the Internet
- Compress pictures for easier email distribution
- Optimize printing your pictures to make the best use of high–quality photo paper