About this encyclopedia

To stay current, "Computer Desktop Encyclopedia" (CDE) is updated monthly for online customers and quarterly for CD-ROM customers. There are approximately 250 new entries and revisions every month.

Our Objective

Our goal is to provide a meaningful definition of everything important in the computer field. We are not a product catalog, but we do include several thousand hardware and software products that are either popular, unique or that have made a meaningful contribution. New terms are essential; however, what makes CDE unique is that we revise existing terms not only when something has changed, but also to better explain them.

Quite a History

First published in 1981 as "The Computer Glossary," a 300-term, text-only handbook for Alan Freedman's computer literacy seminars, by 1989, the 3,500-term, illustrated 4th edition won the "Best Reference Book of the Year" award from Computer Book Review. The Glossary evolved over nine editions in English with translations into seven foreign languages, making it the most successful dictionary about computers on the market. In 1990, it was put on floppy disk for DOS, Mac and Windows. In 1996, a greatly enhanced version was published as a book and CD and renamed "Computer Desktop Encyclopedia" (CDE). Shortly thereafter, CDE debuted on the Web, and the last printed editions were published in 2001.

We are also very honored that some of the most prestigious technical sites on the Web have branded our content as their own. For example, UBM's TechEncyclopedia (UBM was formerly CMP), PCMag.com Encyclopedia and ZDNet Dictionary are actually Computer Desktop Encyclopedia under the covers.

The First Edition

The 60-page first edition of "The Computer Glossary" was written in 1980 on an 8-bit Vector Graphic microcomputer and printed on a daisy wheel printer. Because daisy wheels had only one font size, the term names were left blank so that large Kroytype labels could later be pressed on by hand.

A Note from the Author

My goal is to keep this database informative, interesting, accurate and timely. I invite your suggestions for enhancing existing entries as well as for new subjects, terms and buzzwords. I look forward to hearing from you.

Alan Freedman

THE COMPUTER LANGUAGE COMPANY INC.

5521 State Park Road

Point Pleasant, PA 18950

(215) 297-8082 fax 8424

alan@computerlanguage.com

Alan Freedman

Freedman has been in the information industry for 49 years, starting in the days of punch cards. He has been a programmer, systems analyst, consultant and salesman, specializing in training and education for more than half his career.

Acknowledgments

For nearly 30 years, thousands of technical professionals have helped us understand the concepts and technologies in this encyclopedia. In addition, many readers have contributed terms, suggestions and comments. To all of you, thank you so very much for your assistance.

There are some people who made important contributions in the beginning of this project, and I would like to acknowledge them. Many thanks to Joel Orr, Irving Wieselman, Steve Diascro, Margaret Herrick, Steve Gibson, Leonard Mikolajczak, Paul Bergevin, Garry Dawson, Jagdish Dalal, David Chappell, Thom Drewke, Jeff Hecht, Peter Hermsen, Clive "Max" Maxfield, Terry O'Donnell, Jim Stroh, Pamela Brannan, Walter Levy, Gary Saxer, Mark and Joan Shapiro, Stephen Slade, David Wallace, Bob Williams and the staff at Black Box Corporation.

I especially want to thank Lynn Thompson, our research analyst, for her many thousands of hours of excellent work and devotion.

Last and most important, to Irma Lee Morrison, my wife and partner. Thank you Irmalee. I love you dearly.

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