Computer Hardware And Software

What does "plug and play" mean?

Plug and play just means that you have a piece of hardware, like your mouse, that you want to plug into your computer. Your operating system has drivers that allow you to plug it into your computer. The driver will understand that you're plugging in a mouse, and it'll tell your operating system that, and you'll be able to use it.

What is a "plug in"?

A plug-in's like a little piece of software that's usually related to your web browser. Like if you want to watch video, you're going to need a plug-in so you can do that. So they're usually free and they plug right in to your browser, hence the name.

What is a "driver" and when should I use one?

There are certain pieces of hardware that when you plug in, your operating system doesn't recognize. At this point it doesn't have the driver; it doesn't have that piece of software that tells the operating system what it is that you're plugging in. You usually get a CD that you can put into your computer that'll tell the operating system what driver to use. Alternatively, you can go online and download the necessary driver.

What is "Linux"?

Linux is an operating system that gearheads like me love to use because it's a very streamlined application that doesn't use a lot of resources. With Linux, you have more space and more processing power to do more things.