World Wide Webfx Internet Glossary of Computer Terms

Glossary of Computer Terms
from World Wide Webfx

LAN: Local Area Network is a linking of many computers so that they may exchange files and share hardware (like printers and disk drives).
Lan WorkPlace (LWP): This is a Novell-produced product which allows PC-compatibles to run both the IP protocol (used by Unix and other computers) at the same time as IPX (used by Novell servers). It also inc ludes several TCP/IP DOS programs, such as telnet and ftp, MS Windows programs like Host Presenter and Rapid Filer , and low-level utilities like PING and RSH.
laptop: Portable computer with monitor, system unit and keyboard combined as one unit.(see notebook)
laser printer: Printer that uses technology similar to a copier.
leased line: Any dedicated phone line but usually refers to a 56 kilobit (56,000 bits per second) leased line, It is also roughly the bandwidth needed for a voice phone call. (For leased-line Connection See Direct Connection)
link: see hotlink
load: In World Wide Web or Gopher sessions, a page or menu is loaded into your browser when you access that page and the images and text appear on your screen. If for some reason you need to update the image or information, you can reload the page or menu. See also World Wide Web; Gopher; browser; home page.
Local Area Network (LAN): A data network intended to serve an area of only a few square kilometers or less. LANs usually serve either a single building or a group of closely located buildings. Because the network is known to cover only a small area, optimizations can be made in the network signal protocols that permit data rates up to 100Mb/s. Popular LAN software includes Novell NetWare and Banyan Vines. See also Ethernet, Fiber Distributed Data Interface, Wide Area Network.
local printer: usually refers to a printer that is directly connected to a computer, as opposed to one connected via a network.
login (verb): a procedure used to establish communication to a computer in interactive mode.
login (noun): same as userid.
login id: same as userid , your user name, or your login (noun).
listserv: An automated mailing list distribution system originally designed for the BITNET/EARN network. Listserv programs now also run on UNIX and other operating systems.
lurking: On a mailing list or Usenet newsgroup, listening without responding publicly. As the name implies, this activity is considered somewhat antisocial, but lurking allows beginners to get a feel for the flavor and response patterns of the participants of the group, and also lets them get up to speed on the history of the group. See also e-mail, Frequently Asked Questions, mailing list, Usenet