To stay current with this industry, Computer Desktop Encyclopedia is updated quarterly. Annual subscriptions provide you with a new CD every three months for a year. There are approximately 500 changes in each new version, including new definitions and illustrations and revisions to existing ones.
Our Objective
The objective of Computer Desktop Encyclopedia is to provide a meaningful definition of every important term in the computer industry. By "important" we mean every technology, company and product that makes a significant contribution to the industry. We are not a hardware and software product catalog; however, we include descriptions of about 3,000 products. The criteria for their inclusion is that they are very popular, very unique or have made a meaningful contribution in their niche.
We Revise Over and Over
We are always adding the latest buzzwords, terms, concepts and products along with more drawings and photos. This industry is non stop, and new material is essential. However, what makes Computer Desktop Encyclopedia unique among computer references is that we revise existing terms whenever we see a change, or find that useful information can be added or believe a concept can be explained better. Some terms have been updated every month for as long as the product has been available.
Our History
This product was first published in 1981 as The Computer Glossary, a 60-page, 330-term compendium to Alan Freedman's computer literacy seminars. By 1989, the illustrated 4th edition contained 3,500 terms and won the "Best Reference Book of the Year" award from Computer Book Review. The Glossary evolved over nine editions into the most successful computer dictionary in print and was put on floppy in 1990 for DOS and Macintosh, and soon after for Windows.
In 1996, a greatly enhanced version of the Glossary was introduced as "Computer Desktop Encyclopedia" (CDE) in print and on CD for Windows. The CD has been updated four times a year ever since. In 1997, CDE made its first appearance on the Web.
Quite a History
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia evolved from The Computer Glossary, the longest-running computer dictionary on the market. Translated into several foreign languages, it was created in 1980 as a 330-term compendium to Alan Freedman's computer literacy seminars.
The First Edition
All 330 terms in the first edition of The Computer Glossary were written in 1980 on an 8-bit microcomputer and printed on a daisy wheel printer. Because the daisy wheels contained only one font size, the term names were left blank so that large Kroytype labels could be pressed on by hand afterwards.
A Note from the Author
My goal is to keep this database informative, interesting, accurate and timely. I invite your suggestions for enhancing existing entries as well as for new subjects, terms and buzzwords. I look forward to hearing from you.
Alan Freedman
THE COMPUTER LANGUAGE COMPANY INC.
5521 State Park Road
Point Pleasant, PA 18950
(215) 297-8082 fax 8424
alan@computerlanguage.com
Alan Freedman
Freedman has been in the information industry for nearly 50 years, starting in the days of punch cards. He has been a programmer, systems analyst, consultant and salesman, specializing in training and education for more than half his career.
Acknowledgments
For more than a quarter century, thousands of technical professionals have helped us understand the concepts and technologies in this encyclopedia. In addition, many readers have contributed terms, suggestions and comments. To all of you, thank you so very much for your assistance.
There are some people who made important contributions in the beginning of this project, and I would like to acknowledge them. Many thanks to Joel Orr, Irving Wieselman, Steve Diascro, Margaret Herrick, Steve Gibson, Leonard Mikolajczak, Paul Bergevin, Garry Dawson, Jagdish Dalal, David Chappell, Thom Drewke, Jeff Hecht, Peter Hermsen, Clive "Max" Maxfield, Terry O'Donnell, Jim Stroh, Pamela Brannan, Walter Levy, Gary Saxer, Mark and Joan Shapiro, Stephen Slade, David Wallace, Bob Williams and the staff at Black Box Corporation.
I especially want to thank Lynn Thompson, our research analyst, for her many thousands of hours of excellent work and devotion.
Last and most important, to Irma Lee Morrison, my wife and partner. Thank you Irmalee. I love you dearly.
Our Objective
The objective of Computer Desktop Encyclopedia is to provide a meaningful definition of every important term in the computer industry. By "important" we mean every technology, company and product that makes a significant contribution to the industry. We are not a hardware and software product catalog; however, we include descriptions of about 3,000 products. The criteria for their inclusion is that they are very popular, very unique or have made a meaningful contribution in their niche.
We Revise Over and Over
We are always adding the latest buzzwords, terms, concepts and products along with more drawings and photos. This industry is non stop, and new material is essential. However, what makes Computer Desktop Encyclopedia unique among computer references is that we revise existing terms whenever we see a change, or find that useful information can be added or believe a concept can be explained better. Some terms have been updated every month for as long as the product has been available.
Our History
This product was first published in 1981 as The Computer Glossary, a 60-page, 330-term compendium to Alan Freedman's computer literacy seminars. By 1989, the illustrated 4th edition contained 3,500 terms and won the "Best Reference Book of the Year" award from Computer Book Review. The Glossary evolved over nine editions into the most successful computer dictionary in print and was put on floppy in 1990 for DOS and Macintosh, and soon after for Windows.
In 1996, a greatly enhanced version of the Glossary was introduced as "Computer Desktop Encyclopedia" (CDE) in print and on CD for Windows. The CD has been updated four times a year ever since. In 1997, CDE made its first appearance on the Web.
Quite a History
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia evolved from The Computer Glossary, the longest-running computer dictionary on the market. Translated into several foreign languages, it was created in 1980 as a 330-term compendium to Alan Freedman's computer literacy seminars.
The First Edition
All 330 terms in the first edition of The Computer Glossary were written in 1980 on an 8-bit microcomputer and printed on a daisy wheel printer. Because the daisy wheels contained only one font size, the term names were left blank so that large Kroytype labels could be pressed on by hand afterwards.
A Note from the Author
My goal is to keep this database informative, interesting, accurate and timely. I invite your suggestions for enhancing existing entries as well as for new subjects, terms and buzzwords. I look forward to hearing from you.
Alan Freedman
THE COMPUTER LANGUAGE COMPANY INC.
5521 State Park Road
Point Pleasant, PA 18950
(215) 297-8082 fax 8424
alan@computerlanguage.com
Alan Freedman
Freedman has been in the information industry for nearly 50 years, starting in the days of punch cards. He has been a programmer, systems analyst, consultant and salesman, specializing in training and education for more than half his career.
Acknowledgments
For more than a quarter century, thousands of technical professionals have helped us understand the concepts and technologies in this encyclopedia. In addition, many readers have contributed terms, suggestions and comments. To all of you, thank you so very much for your assistance.
There are some people who made important contributions in the beginning of this project, and I would like to acknowledge them. Many thanks to Joel Orr, Irving Wieselman, Steve Diascro, Margaret Herrick, Steve Gibson, Leonard Mikolajczak, Paul Bergevin, Garry Dawson, Jagdish Dalal, David Chappell, Thom Drewke, Jeff Hecht, Peter Hermsen, Clive "Max" Maxfield, Terry O'Donnell, Jim Stroh, Pamela Brannan, Walter Levy, Gary Saxer, Mark and Joan Shapiro, Stephen Slade, David Wallace, Bob Williams and the staff at Black Box Corporation.
I especially want to thank Lynn Thompson, our research analyst, for her many thousands of hours of excellent work and devotion.
Last and most important, to Irma Lee Morrison, my wife and partner. Thank you Irmalee. I love you dearly.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
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