The letter O: A Glossary of Windows Terms

Original Equipment Manufacturer – OEM. Most often, OEM is used to denote the software that comes with a new PC or laptop (OEM Version). OEM versions of software are often less expensive than software you’d purchase independently. OEM is also used to denote companies that manufacture products and sell them to other companies under their own names.

Office – In the computer world, Office generally denotes the Microsoft Office suite of applications , which includes PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, and others.

Offline Files – Files copied from a network location for use when not connected to the network. Upon reconnection, the files are synchronized.

OneNote – A program used with Tablet PCs for taking and managing handwritten notes.

Open Source – Software that is often available for free and also offers its source code for editing by the general public. The most well knows open source software is Linux.

Operating System –The code installed on a PC so a user can interact with that PC. Popular operating systems include Windows XP, Linux, Windows Vista, and others.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) – Software that can convert scanned text into editable text.

Optical Drive – A drive that can read optical media using a laser. Blu-Ray, CD and DVD writers, and CD and DVD drives are all examples.

Opt-In – Often used followed by “e-mail list” it is the voluntary offering of one’s e-mail address for the purpose of receiving regular email from a company or web site.

Outbox – A place where e-mail is temporarily stored while it waits to be sent to its intended recipient. You’ll find an Outbox in Outlook Express and Outlook, as well as Windows Live Mail and similar programs.

Outlook – An application included in the Microsoft Office suite used for sending, receiving, and managing e-mail, calendars, contacts, and related items.

Outlook Express – An application included with Windows XP used for sending, receiving, and managing e-mail and contacts. Outlook Express does not have a calendar and lacks many of the features included with the full version, Outlook.

Overclock – To run a processor faster than it was created and tested to run. Overclocking can cause overheating though, and should be applied with care.

This post is part of the series: Windows Glossary

Learn the definitions for the terms used in the Bright Hub Windows Channel. This series starts with the letter “A” and runs all the way to “Z”.

1. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “A”
2. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “B”
3. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “C”
4. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “D”
5. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “E”
6. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “F”
7. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “G”
8. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “H”
9. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “I”
10. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “J” and “K”
11. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “L”
12. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “M”
13. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “N”
14. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “O”
15. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “P”
16. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “Q”
17. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “R”
18. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “S”
19. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “U and V”
20. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “W”
21. A Glossary of Windows Terms – “X”, “Y”, and “Z”