Definitions (continued)

CD Burner
- This device allows you to BURN cd's so that you can make data back ups or create your own music cd's or MP3's. With this you have choice between CD-R and CD-RW disks. Basically CD-R means you can write to it once only and CD-RW means you can write to it many times, more on this in a later column.

Dvd Drive
Allows you to watch DVD movies on your computer and access special computer features on your DVD disk.

Dvd Burner
Allows you to watch DVD movies on your computer and access special computer features on your DVD disk as well as make copies of DVD's, more on this later.

Ram
This is the memory or temporary storage area on your computer. If you lose power to your computer while it is turned on, you will lose any information stored here, that is why you have a hard drive. Ram will also speed up your computer, basically the more ram you have the better and faster your machine will work. We will discuss the pros and cons and differences at a later date

Motherboard
This is a large green circuit board inside your computer that everything else plugs into.

Video Card
This card plugs into your motherboard and allows the video (pictures) signal to be displayed on your monitor.

Sound Card
This card plugs into your motherboard and allows the audio (sounds) signal to be played on your speakers.

Speakers
You plug these into your sound card so you can hear your computer.

Modem
This device allows you to hook your phone up to your computer so that you can access the internet or send and receive faxes.

Network card
- This card allows you to access the internet at high speed using the phone line or cable.

CPU
I saved the best for last, the CPU is the brain of the computer. When someone asks the speed of your computer this is what they are asking about, more about this later.

In Summary
There are more devices that are not mentioned here but these are the basics. We will be covering them all in more detail as time goes by. If you have a specific question, please feel free to contact me by email at pc_doc1@telus.net and I will try to answer you as best I can over email.

Thank You

(The) PC DOCTOR