Computer/Technical Jargon

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RAM: Random Access Memory. Each group of 8-bits (or 1 byte) is given a unique address that is a combination of one's and zero's. 32-bit CPU's use 32 ones and zeroes for addresses. New 64-bit CPU's use 40, although they can and will use 64 and will in the future. To compute the maximum amount of memory your computer can support, find out how many bits are used to address memory. You then compute 2 to that number's power. For instance, for a 32-bit computer, it is 2³². Each unique address of memory can be accessed independently of any other address of memory, that is each address can be randomly accessed. Currently RAM is always slower than the CPU. Also, RAM has to go through refresh periods after being used. These refresh periods are called RAS, Row Active Strobe, and CAS, Column Active Strobe. As the name suggest, it is the time each row and column needs to refresh itself and be ready for use. Higher quality RAM refreshes at a much faster rate and can thus have an impact on overall computer performance. RAM is volatile.

Release Candidate: The final stage of testing. In this stage, the code is just about finished. Developers put out a Release Candidate (RC) to test compatibility and find as many bugs as possible. At this stage, there can be no major revisions. When code reaches RC stage, only bugs and minor errors can be fixed. In the Beta stage, a test may suggest that the program perform the action a certain way. But at RC stage, that cannot be done. In practice, if no errors were found, then that RC code becomes the final code. (However, shoddy developers may purposefully release an unready program to get it to market early.) If errors were found than a new RC is made. RC may be numbered: RC1, RC2, and so on.

RISC: Reduced Instruction Set Computer. RISC CPU's are simple, meaning they are cheaper to design and make than CISC CPU's (the C stands for complex). And, until the 80486, RISC CPU's were better. The optimizations were done by the programmer or compiler. A good compiler can really increase the efficiency of a program. The reason why RISC CPU's never really caught on is because Intel spent a lot of money of the CISC CPU's -- 8086, 80286, Pentium, and such -- and the creators of RISC CPU's didn't have that kind of money to spend. Most everybody had a PC, if you wanted a RISC CPU, you would have to get all new programs. IBM's PowerPC found on older Macs, Intel's Itanium, and many CPU's found on consumer electronics are RISC CPU's. See also CISC.

Rootkit: Software that enables other processes to be completely hidden from the user. Some processes are, by design, hidden because they are essential to the operation of the Operating System. Those processes are not part of a rootkit. Rootkits main purpose is subversive, allowing someone or something else to control your computer. Furthermore, some rootkits mess with the internal components of the Operating System, removing them can destroy your installed Operating System. The most famous rootkit is by Sony, which used the Autoplay feature of Windows to install the rootkit to preven copying, legel and illegal, of CD's. The name rootkit comes from UNIX. The "root" user was the only user with full control over the OS (unlike current versions of Windows where everybody has full control by default). A special "kit" allowed some user to maintain "root" status without anyone else every knowing. Rootkits are very hard to detect and harder to remove. The best action to avoid a rootkit is to disable Autoplay, always have an antivirus scanner, and be extra careful what you download. Free programs are havens for malware like this. 9 times out 10, if you have a rootkit, it is best to reinstall your OS, and the other time you probably should do it anyway.

Router: A device that routes your internet connection, usually high-speed, to one or more computers. Most routers also have a firewall. That coupled with the extra layer of protection between your computer and the internet makes a router essential for high-speed internet. A router makes your computer more secure than not having one or dial-up.

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