Three (soon to be four) types of credit-card-sized cards plug into portable computers (and some desktop models) to add and remove RAM, modems, network adapters, hard disks, and other devices without requiring that you open the box. These PC Cards conform to several standards set by the PCMCIA.

Peripheral Component Interconnect - Slot card interface. PCI is a standardized architecture that provides a high-speed data path between peripherals and the CPU.

Personal Computer Memory Card International Association - Based in Sunnyvale, California, the PCMCIA's specifications for the PC Card enabled the computer industry to manufacture credit-card-sized removable cards to add RAM, modems, network adapters, hard disks, and even radio devices like pagers and global positioning systems to portable computers. Many people call PC Cards by the longer name PCMCIA cards. The association has trademarked the term PC Card, however, so that's the preferred usage.

A network where there is no dedicated server. Every computer can share files and peripherals with all other computers on the network, given that all are granted access privileges. File sharing programs like Kazaa are a good example of this on a larger scale.

A hardware component you add to your computer, usually by a cable. When this word is used, it usually refers to hardware such as a mouse, keyboard, monitor or printer.

Pin Grid Array - The method in which the CPU uses to interact with the CPU socket.

Spoofing an e-mail in an attempt to falsely solicit information from a user for either profit or identity

Corrects the curve at the vertical edges of a monitors display.

Usenet slang term for adding someone to your kill file. It can be used as a verb to describe the action: "I so plonked that guy". Usenet slang term for adding someone to your kill file. Thought to be an acronym for "Put Lamer on Killfile".

The ability of certain operating systems to automatically detect a new device that has been added to the system, uniquely identify that device, and install the appropriate drivers and system files for that device. Identification is facilitated by means of predetermined identification numbers hard-coded into the device. When the operating system boots up, it polls all installed devices and checks the returned identification numbers against the list of previously installed devices.