A single-user computer. It typically refers to a PC or Mac, but may also refer to a workstation from Sun, IBM, etc. Also called a "client computer" or "client" or simply a "desktop," the term implies stationary use, whether it resides on the top of the desk or under the desk in a tower case. Contrast with laptop. See desktop PC.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Revisiting the Motorola Droid on Verizon [Q&A]
- Why the hate for drag and drop?Almost every review I have read faults the Droid because you can't auto-sync music:"(You can dump your music on a microSD card and pop it in, but it?s a copy-paste files affair, not a ?load my music? integrated experience.)"The Droid ships with a 16...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- Open source needs successful champions
- Open Source powers the Internet period!Open_Source powers the ENTIRE Internet withrouters/switches/servers you name it like Microsoft sitting behind caching Linux distroname servers.Now you tell me what does it need now???It is the FUTURE of smart devices, appliancedriven infrastructure, just like VMware using a Linux derived kernel and it is #1...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- Windows Security Officer 7.5.5.44 (Windows)
- Windows Security Officer is an autonomous provider of log-on and resource restriction security application integrated with, yet independent of, the Windows operating system. It has the capability of providing extremely strong, secure control of who can access a personal computer resources, and exactly what they can do and when they...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- OpenLink Lite Edition ODBC Driver for SQL Server (TDS) 6.02.3280 (Mac)
- High-Performance ODBC Drivers provide transparent access to remote databases from any ODBC-compliant application. Desktop Productivity Tools (i.e., Spreadsheets, Word Processors, Presentation Packages, Desktop Databases, Personal Organizers, etc.), Client-Server Application Development Environments, Web-based Database Publishing Tools, and Computer Telephony Integration packages, are just a few of the many products that can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Desk Drive 1.8 (Windows)
- Desk Drive solves a really annoying problem. You pop a USB thumb drive or DVD into your computer and then you have to open Window's Explorer and find the mapped drive or folder. Desk Drive adds a desktop icon pointing to the drive automatically. Remove the media and the shortcut...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Photostand 2.1.2 (Windows)
- Photostand changes the wallpaper of your PC automatically. It can use pictures on your HDD and web pictures on the Internet. Photostand collects many different kinds of Web wallpapers on the Internet Web Wallpaper servers and enables you to set those images at your PC's desktop. Photostand recommends more than...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Walmart unveils 15.6" HP Pavilion G60 laptop for $298
- hmmfor once, i agree with you. why are they still making the celeron...? shouldn't the atom replace that?Intel Celeron?is Inhel still making this 10 year old crap?surplus maybe? ntnti feel 298 is bad for celron processor..but still good option for ppl who r new to these creepy labtops..RE: Walmart unveils...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
- Xobni expands to include enterprise but where are Web, Mobile and even Mac versions
- Search tools more than important!!!Good that mostly everbody knows that in business life nothing works without e-mail and even that important is a reliable and fast search tool for Outlook! One of those is Lookeen It has so many features which lighten your work that is amazing. It works with...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
- Hardware 2.0 'Very Best Kit List' for Nov/Dec 09
- These are consistently your most useful columnsI really look forward to these, especially since I'm thinking about building a new video editing machine. One that can handle full frame 1080 24p h.264 video. I can transcode it with cineform but unless you're doing a lot of color work, it's...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-03
- News to know: Ruiz, Moffat resign; Microsoft; Psystar; Smartphones
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage.: Sam Diaz: Ruiz resigns as GlobalFoundries chairman; no mention of insider trading scandal Moffat no longer with IBM as...
- Blog posts 2009-11-03
- Live Mesh 0.9.4014.7 beta (Windows)
- Your work computer, home laptop, Mac, or mobile phone- devices live in multiple places. But the files you need--and the programs that open them--often don't. Live Mesh changes all that. With Live Mesh, you can synchronize files with all of your devices, so you always have the latest versions handy....
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- ADmitMac 5.0 (Mac)
- ADmitMac v3 allows Macintosh users running Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, or Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger with the latest updates, to participate in and take advantage of all the directory services provided by Microsoft's Active Directory, NT, and Apple's Workgroup Manager. As a result, administrators can manage their domain...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- goScreen 6.0.0.306 (Windows)
- Organize and add space to your computer's desktop by creating up to 80 virtual screen pages. Run each application, or group of applications on a separate screen. Never minimize any of the applications, never close any of them. When you switch screen pages, all running Windows programs just disappear from...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- The perfect computer?
- Do we have the technology to build a perfect computer? Would it be perfect for a specific purpose or is it possible to build a perfect general purpose computer? Small Business Computing's Mark Beckley has some answers. Do we have the technology to build a perfect...
- News items 2009-11-02
- Is Microsoft a dinosaur to Google's mammal?
- Random comments...How odd the mixed metaphors sound... "built from the ground up to work in the cloud"...The dinosaurs were around for tens of millions of years, and we mammals can barely say the same. The crown of creation can be wrested from the head of the wearer by something unforeseen--like...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-02
- Maingear unleashes Shift desktop, child-sized 'personal supercomputer' for $2,199 (or $13,394)
- Without demonstrated Linux or OSX support......what's the point? Who does video stuff on Windows?Plenty do.....You just don't get out much. My XP system with cakewalk software did me just fine and that was on a P4 system that couldn't keep itself cool, ever. But my audio quality...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-02
- Maingear unleashes Shift desktop, child-sized 'personal supercomputer' for $2,199 (or $13,394)
- Boutique computer maker Maingear on Monday unleashed its Shift desktop PC, a child-sized "everyday supercomputer" that marries extreme performance and upgradeability to industrial design for a barnburning rig that can handle the highest-definition media. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-11-02
- Chris PC-Lock 2.90 (Windows)
- Chris PC-Lock is a useful Windows application with keyboard locking functions. Now you can enjoy your spare time without any worry that somebody unauthorized will access your computer. Chris PC-Lock is doing this job for you. Chris PC-Lock has a lot of nice features like: Locks the keyboard of your...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- GoodSync 8.0.5.7 (Windows)
- GoodSync is an easy, secure, and reliable way to automatically synchronize and back up your photos, MP3s, and important files. Backing-up and/or synchronizing your critical documents is as easy as one click, and can also be scheduled using a variety of automatic options. True bi-directional file synchronization prevents any data...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Best iPhone & iPod touch apps
- It's that time of the year again! It's hard to believe, but this time last year, we only had 5,000 apps to choose from in the App Store â€" this year there's more than 85,000 apps to choose from. What a difference a year makes. Whether you're looking...
- Blog posts 2009-11-01
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
-
-
Smart Tech
Expert advice on innovations in healthcare and the green technologies that make it happen.
Find out more
-
Smart Business
Discussion and advice on management issues that revolve around making your world smarter and more useful.
More Smart Advice
-
Smart People
The best and worst moves in the management and strategy trenches.
Learn More
