The s

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*L2 cache*		Refers to "level 2 or secondary" cache. A type of cache that resides on the motherboard except when referring to a Pentium Pro machine, where it resides on the processor.
*LAN*		Local Area Network. Two or more computers connected by cable and using a suitable operating system and application software so they can directly share hard disks, printers, other peripherals, and files.
laptop		A portable computer bigger than a notebook computer but still light enough to use on your lap. Usually somewhat larger than a sheet of paper, and at least two inches thick.
laser		An electronic device that produces coherent light. Used in fiber optic communication, laser printers, magneto-optical devices, and CD-ROM.
laser printer		A xerographic printer that uses a laser to draw the image of the page to be printed on the photosensitive drum.
latency		The period of time it takes a packet to go from sender to receiver across a network.
LCD		Liquid Crystal Diode, Also Liquid Crystal Display. A display technology that uses rod-shaped molecules (liquid crystals) that flow like liquid and bend light.
LCD printer		A printer similar to a laser printer except that light shines through LCD shutters which open and close so light falls on the photosensitive drum to produce the page image.
LED		Light Emitting Diode. A diode that emits light when electricity is run through it. LEDs are frequently used as indicator lights.
LED printer		A printer similar to a laser printer except the light source is an array of LEDs.
legacy card		An expansion card that utilizes jumpers for setting changes. Compare Plug and Play.
letter quality		Printer output good enough to be used in business letters.
level-sensitive interrupt		An interrupt triggered by the actual state of the interrupt signal rather than by its transition from one state to the other. Two devices triggered by opposite states can share the same interrupt.
LF		Linefeed. What you get when you press the Return key in a word processing program. Causes the cursor to move down one line. Also a printer command that causes the printer to advance the paper one line. Frequently used with the carriage return command.
line		Any solid whose purpose is to conduct electricity or electrical signals. Usually a wire or printed circuit board conductor. Also a row of characters on paper or a computer screen.
linefeed		See LF.
line printer		A type of printer that prints a line at a time. Usually used in high speed data processing applications. Dot matrix printers print a character at a time, laser printers print a page at a time.
line voltage		The electricity coming in from the wall outlet. 110VAC.
lithium ion		A rechargeable battery technology that provides more than twice the charge per pound as nickel hydride.
local		Attached to or happening within your computer. Compare remote.
lock up		When a computer fails to respond to the keyboard, usually because something went wrong in software. See "crash", "bomb", and "hang". Usually requires restarting the computer.
logic		The intent of the programming commands that determine what a program finally does. Also generic term for Boolean operations.
logic chip		A chip that performs logical operations on data. Compare memory chip.
logic circuit		A circuit that performs the electronic equivalent of Boolean operations. See Boolean.
login		A series of commands that allows a person to begin using a network. Usually one of the commands involves identifying yourself as a user, and there is frequently a password.
logon		Same as login.
logoff		The reverse of login. The steps you take to stop using a network, also called terminating a session.
logout		Same as logoff.
low level format		A preliminary formatting process for hard disks that finds bad sectors. This format is done at the factory; you should avoid performing a low level format yourself.
low memory		The first MB of RAM in a DOS computer. Same as standard memory, main memory, and primary storage.
LPT		Originally, Line Printer. Now, the logical device name for a parallel port.
LSI		Large Scale Integration. An integrated circuit chip containing 100 to 5000 components.
luggable		A portable computer weighing more than about 15 lbs.

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