C++
If you visit the Web pages of programs featured in Lockergnome (and you should), you may have noticed that the term "C++" pops up quite often. It's an object-oriented programming language that many consider to be the best one available. Of course, some don't believe it's the best thing since sliced bagels. Everyone seems to have a different opinion. It's really strange, this whole "difference of opinion" thing. Anyway, C++ is used to create programs. It takes a lot of patience to learn, but in "no time at all" you'll be creating the same program fifty other people made two years ago. Oh, how I love to kid! Note: Java was developed using C++. I think that was also my final grade in social studies.
Cable Modem
Most people run on a 56k modem. Let me rephrase that: most computers run on a 56k modem. I don't know many human beings who run on a peripheral. I'm not sure you could be classified as "human" anymore if you needed a modem to function (oh wait, I think I just zinged myself there... ouch). Anyway, a modem most likely makes your "Internet connection" possible. The "56k" part can be a pain when it comes to downloading programs, listening to music, or watching video over the Internet. You see, that's not a lot of bandwidth (less than 56,000 bytes per second). A cable modem gives you (almost) more than enough pipe to complete your regular Internet odysseys. Plus, the cable modem is always connected -- which is great when you want to devote an entire day to watching the GnomeWEBCAM update. What? Nobody does that? Then what's the point of having a cable modem, anyway? It's just a regular coaxial cable that could just as easily plug into your TV. Don't try switching things around without warning your cable company first. The service must be turned on before you can use it. In my neck of the woods, cable was the only viable option. But I'm sure you heard about that in past Chris Pirillo shows.
Cache
Sorry, we only accept cache here. Ya know, it's a virtual place where data can be stored. That's basically what a cache does on your computer, too. It gives oft-used files a temporary home (for quicker access). Kinda like Tupperware for your PC. What the heck am I talking about? Let's say you mix up a heapin' helpin' of macaroni salad for lunch. You don't want to make it all over again later, so you store it in a container and pop it in the fridge for the impending midnight snack. Your Web browser has its own cache; a place where recently accessed Web data is stored on your hard drive. When you visit a page again, parts of it may be loaded from your system (as opposed to being loaded from the Web server). This should pull the page up for you much quicker; it also means that one less person will be hogging up bandwidth on the network. You can decide how large (or small) you want your cache to be; the files can be removed just as easily should you need to free up a little more disk space. My suggestion: keep your cache set at 20 megabytes or smaller.
CAD
*Gag* All these acronyms. Nowadays people are using the acronyms before the actual meanings even have time to permeate the lexicon. Here's another: CAD. It stands for "computer-aided design." You can probably deduce the meaning just by looking at the phrase. CAD is a combination of software and a computer used to design two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional models. Mostly CAD is used for technical illustrations and precision drawings, so if you're putting together a blueprint for the next top secret military spy plane, you'll likely need some computer- aided design.
Carbon Copy
Allow me to set the scene: You're working in an office and the boss has given you strict orders to e-mail Bill in accounting about the new budget proposal. Now, the boss wants to know exactly what you said to Bill in your e-mail. How can you do that? Send the same message to both of them at the same time. In most e-mail clients, you have an address line and another line below it labeled "CC." So, the person addressed in the CC: line will get an exact duplicate of the message -- a carbon copy. But your boss didn't want it known that you're sending a copy to him. To solve this dilemma, simply enter your boss's e-mail in the "BCC:" ("blind carbon copy") field. Now the message will go to both Bill and your boss, but your boss's e-mail will not be visible to the recipient(s). It's just like using carbon paper to make copies... except you don't get ink all over your fingers. If you do get ink on your fingers while sending e-mail, then something is definitely wrong. Even Bill could tell you that.
Chat Room Lingo
You know what emoticons are -- those cute little faces you can make with your keyboard characters. Well, there's another way to convey your feelings via e-mail. Actually, it's just a shorter way to say how you're feeling. For instance, let's say you're in the Lockergnome chat room and "yours truly" stops by and makes a witty comment. You can reply with a simple "LOL" which means "laughing out loud." If somebody says something utterly side-splitting, you might type "ROTFL" ("rolling on the floor laughing"). If you have to leave for a moment, you'd enter "BRB" ("be right back") or "AFK" ("away from keyboard"). IMHO, chat acronyms are perfect for chat rooms where the dialogue is quick and personal. I would, however, avoid them in any business- style transactions. You knew that anyway, right? TTFN!
Chipset
Ya'll know what a microchip is, but did you know that two or more microchips can work together as a single unit? These little chip collages are known as "chipsets." What's the point of combining these microchips, you ask? In short, to make things run smoother and more efficiently by optimizing communications between components. Common chipset uses include PCI controllers, network interfaces and processor support, among many others. That, my friends, is what a chipset is, generally speaking. You should take note that if you find acorns in your hard drive, you may have a "Chip and Dale" set.
CMYK
"Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black," that's "CMYK." Yeah, I know... the "K" stands for black, but don't ask me why (probably to distinguish it from blue? Yeah, I'm quick). CMYK is similar to RGB -- except not at all. Ya see, RGB deals with color, which means that what you see is a certain color (light) radiating from your screen. I'm trying not to turn this into a mini science lesson, but it is important in understanding the difference between these two schemes. CMYK, on the other hand, has to do with pigment (say, acrylic paint, for example). Naturally, RGB is best suited to monitors and such, and CMYK is the scheme to use when you're making print copies. Most of your image editing programs will let you choose between one or the other. The choice, as always, is yours (and should be contingent on the project).
Codec
This term has a couple of meanings, so we'll start at the beginning. It can be used to define anything that compresses and decompresses data. One example of this would be MPEG, AVI, or MP3 files. In that instance, codec stands for compressor / decompressor. However, it can also be used to mean coder / decoder. If you're wondering who Coder is, he was the mechanic on The Dukes Of Hazard. Anyway, a codec in this case might be used to transfer digital to analog (or analog to digital, as the case may be). In fact, that's exactly what your modem does. You had a codec and didn't even know it. Whoa, that's spooky!
Command Line Interface
Drop to what they used to call a "DOS Prompt." Ya know, run COMMAND.COM. If you're not a power user, you probably never work down there. That is, however, a good place to start with today's term: "command line interface." You see, on that command line, you must manually enter commands in order to make things happen. Then, you type some more stuff... and so on and so forth. Linux users know all about CLIs, too. Though most people are happy with "graphical user interface," which is what Windows offers. Awfully gooey, if you ask me. See that Internet Explorer link? Click on it to open Internet Explorer. Easy, eh? Sorry, but there's no pointing or clicking on the command prompt.
Compression
Well, we all know that to compress something means to squish it down and make it smaller. For example, if you're mailing someone a Nerf football, you could squeeze it into a tiny box if you had to. Well, large files on your PC can also be squished. This helps free hard drive space. It also makes sending files via e-mail easier (and quicker) to do. ZIP is one example of a "compression" format -- one with which Gnomies should be very familiar. A lot of Windows downloads I feature are archived in this format. With the right tools, you could shrink just about any piece of data. Almost. Certain binary structures lend themselves to high compression ratios moreso than others. I wonder if I can get some kind of reward for being the first to use Nerf to explain compression? You never know.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Remember when you were little and your parents told you not to sit too close to the TV? "But Mom, I'm trying to catch the Tasmanian Devil!" Well, your parents were right. Sitting so close to the television set is bad for your eyes. The same applies to computer monitors, too. In fact, there's a name for what long stretches of screen staring can do to a person's health; it's called "Computer Vision Syndrome." Don't worry, it's NOT fatal -- but it can put your eyesight at risk if you aren't careful about avoiding unnecessary eyestrain. Screen glare, poor images, and inadequate light sources can all add to CVS. Headaches, eyestrain, and a sore neck are your body's way of telling you to take a rest. NOW! It's okay to take a break... I'll be here when you return. Go away or I shall taunt you a second time.
Content Sites
A "content site" is a destination that provides (hold on to your hats, ladies and germs) content. Well, don't all sites have content? Why not just call them Web sites? Well, you can. This is just a term to separate content-driven services from e-commerce-laden hierarchies, like AMAZON.COM. Content sites tend to attract and retain more people because they're not often selling anything directly; they must find other ways to derive revenue. Lockergnome, just to use as an example, is a content site. As is CNET, Yahoo!, and about fifty billion other sites I have no intention of listing here because this definition has gone on too long already. Don't you agree? Eh, some content is free, and some you're forced to pay for. In time, we may just have BOTH models to offer you.
Cookies
What can we say about cookies that hasn't already been said by Cookie Monster? "C" is for "cookie," and that's good enough for him, darn it. When it comes to cookies on your hard drive, that might not be so good... but it might not be so bad, either. Cookies are a touchy subject nowadays; an example of how something good can become a nuisance when in the wrong hands. First off, what the heck is a cookie? A cookie is a text file that stores information about you, your computer, or your preferences; Web sites give you cookies. Awww, ain't that nice? This information is harmless -- for the most part. How do you like entering the same information for a particular account over and over and over and over and over again? These Internet services want to save you time by giving you a low-fat digital dessert. "Chris, come on in!" Without a cookie, the site is more likely to say: "Who the heck are you? Chris? Yeah, well prove it." Cookies, in other words, are supposed to make Web surfing a smoother activity. However, some unscrupulous folks have discovered ways to use cookies to track your every move across the Internet: (the sites you visit, your spending habits... all the stuff that's nobody's business). You can download programs designed to destroy cookies, but while you're getting rid of the bad ones, you're also destroying the ones that were designed to help you. It's a cruel, cruel world we live in, but don't assume that everybody's out to get ya.
Copyleft
We all know what "copyright" is. When you buy software, it's typically copyrighted -- which means you can't change or modify it. It's off limits, buster. Well, with the emergence of open source code, a new phrase has appeared (though it's been around for a while). "Copyleft," in case you haven't figured it out yet, is only for left-handed programmers. Actually, it's the opposite of "copyright." You can change and modify software code to fit your needs. Open source stuff is wonderful, as long as you're a developer and keep compilers sitting around. Permission to use this, captain? "Go for it, ensign Ricky." GNU (guh-NEW) is not new. Gnutella, I believe, has been copylefted.
Crawler
How does a duck know what direction South is? And how to tell his wife from all the other ducks? Why doesn't it hurt when you get your hair cut? And how do search engines come up with those entries that tell you what's on a specific web page? Well, I can only answer the last question: those sites use something called a "crawler" (also known as a "spider" or "bot"). It flips through your Web pages and gathers information for an index (which is stored remotely). A crawler comes in handy whenever a site is updated, too. You may have heard about META tags before; they relay document and author data to automated indexers. Crawlers are also great for breakfast, although I'd rather have Iowa-grown bacon. Somebody pass me a napkin.
