memory - Physical microchips that can hold data and programming located on the motherboard or expansion cards.
modem - From MOdulate/DEModulate. A device that modulates digital data from a computer to an analog format that can be sent over telephone lines then demodulates it back into digital format.
monitor - The most commonly used output device for displaying text and graphics on a computer.
motherboard - The main board in the computer also called the system board. The CPU, ROM chips, SIMMs, DIMMs, RIMMs and interface cards are plugged into the motherboard.
mouse - A pointing and input device that allows the user to move a cursor around a screen and select programs with the click of a button.
operating system (OS) - Software that controls a computer. An OS controls how system resources are used and provides a user interface, a way of managing hardware and software and ways to work with files.
parallel port - A female 25-pin port on a computer that can transmit data in parallel, 8 bits at a time and is usually used with a printer. The names for parallel ports are LPT1 and LPT2.
RAM (Random Access Memory) - Memory modules on the motherboard containing microchips used to temporarily hold data and programs while the CPU processes both. Information in RAM is lost when the PC is turned off.
serial port - A male 9-pin or 25-pin port on a computer system used by slower I/O devices such as a mouse or modem. Data travels serially, one bit at a time through the port. Serial ports are sometimes configured as COM1, COM2, COM3 or COM4.