Accounts: The first definition of accounts refers to the categories, or "accounts," you might set up in your home office financial tracking software. An financial account can be defined as anything expense or income that falls under a particular category, or it can refer to an actual, specific account set up in your banking system, such as your checking account or savings account. The second definition of accounts refers to how you allow users to access your computer. You can set up different accounts for yourself, the other members of your family, and for any guest who might need to access your computer. Each account can have different permissions and capabilities; for example, a Guest Account might be set up to allow use of the software and access to the internet, but not the ability to download programs or change computer settings.
Advertising: Advertising, in the world of home office tech, most often applies to business promotion done via online marketing tools such as textual website ads (Google AdSense and Adwords), affiliate advertising and promotion (Amazon), and social networking "buzz." Online users might use advertising to make money through other companies by hosting ads on individual websites, blogs, or internet portals. Or online users might use advertising to promote their own business or professional services, by purchasing ads on websites, offering product promotions, information, and other incentives to visit the business website.
Add-On: An add-on is a hardware component or a software extension that can be used to upgrade your computer's speed, response, and functionality. An add-on that applies to software is often called an extension or a plug-in.
Adobe Illustrator: One of the most popular and powerful illustrating and editing programs available, Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based drawing program. The latest edition is Illustrator CS4, which includes new features like multiple artboards and a more realistic paintbrush stroke.
AlphaSmart: An innovate educational and writing tool, the AlphaSmart is basically a downsized laptop. It is lightweight and small and functions only as a word processor, thus giving the user limited functionality but incredibly increased mobility. It syncs with a laptop or desktop to transfer the saved files over to the bigger computer.
Anti-Virus Software: Anti-virus software is a necessity of life for the home office user, especially for those operating on a Windows system. Virus are evil little "bugs" that get into your system via email attachments and file downloads and then override your system's processes, causing it to lock up, open multiple windows, destroy files, crash, and all sorts of other unpleasant things. Anti-virus software prevents the virus files from being accepted by and downloaded into your computer's hard drive, thus preventing the virus from becoming active.
Archive: An archive is a collection of old files on a computer or in a web-based program such as email. Archived messages or files are still accessible but do not show up in your active file list or your active email inbox.
Attachment: An attachment is a file that is sent via email from one computer to another, or even from one user to another on the same computer. Most email programs have limits on the size an attached file can be, so attached files must often be compressed before being emailed.