Small Group Communication: iMacChat - Case Study Example

Small Group Communication: iMacChat I. INTRODUCTION The development of communication technology over the last 50 years has seen vast and significantchanges. Letter writing has been replace by email and text messaging, and the time span between writing and response has shrunk to almost zero. Furthermore, small group interaction has seen significant changes within the online environment, as opposed to real-world group interaction. Indeed, so significant are the changes that a specific set of rules, referred to as “netiquette”, had to be established in order to maintain the order and benefits of online group communication. Specifically, this paper focuses on the online group, iMacChat. After a discussion of the group itself, some theoretical concepts relating to small group interaction and the online environment will be defined and applied. GROUP DESCRIPTION iMacChat is an online discussion group that focus on issues surrounding the use and ownership of iMac computers and associated systems. The group is quite large, consisting of 1763 persons at the time of writing. On the day when I joined, the report stated that 10 new members have joined over the last 7 days. The group is therefore quite popular, and appears to draw new sign-ups on a continual basis. In the mean time, many new members may therefore have signed up, and the group may be substantially larger than at the time of this writing. Applying for group membership was quite an interesting exercise. The first step was to provide information relating to why I wanted to join the group. This message is then approved by a moderator, who later sends a welcome message to the effect that membership has been approved. In order to preserve security and ensure the authenticity of membership application, another box requests the duplication of a random code. This is standard procedure for most online groups, and all Yahoo chat groups include these. It wasn’t significantly difficult to apply for membership, nor did it take very long to be approved. I was approved within 12 hours after applying for membership. Immediately after applying for membership, I received two messages from the group moderator. The first (included in the appendix) was a message thanking me for applying, and that the moderators would approve membership as soon as possible. This message also stated that Internet delays are possible as a result of site maintenance or weekend hours. The second included a PDF attachment containing only one page with the group logo and information, as displayed on the front page of the group itself. The file name is “Print Me Out and Pin Me Up,” with no further explanation is offered either in the email or in the file itself. I assume that this file is for promotion purposes, and that the moderators felt the title was sufficient explanation. After my membership was processed, I received a further four files. The first two appears to be generated automatically by Yahoo; one informing me of membership approval, and the other more specifically informing me of the arrival of a further two files. The third email is a “Welcome” message, containing general rules and regulations, including definitions of various technical terms, as well as topics that are acceptable within the group context. The message further states that all new member posts are moderated before being displayed to the rest of the group, which can result in delays in response time. The final file is entitled “Moderator’s Plea” and contains a message regarding courtesy to other users. The message urges users to keep the posts short, and to edit the messages being replied to. While the group was not excessively difficult to apply to or be accepted into, there does appear to be some points of confusion. The first for me was the PDF folder I received before even being accepted as a member. I assume that it’s for promotional purposes, but fail to see why this was not stated either in the email or the PDF. Secondly, I fail to see the absolute necessity of so many files. I would prefer at most three files. The first notifying me of pending membership, the second of membership approval, and the third of rules and regulations, including the “plea”. In total, I received six emails during this process. I believe the same can be accomplished in much less space. Another point of moderate difficulty is the moderation of messages. I do not have a specific problem with this, and do understand its necessity and spirit. However, I would have preferred being informed of this prior to joining the group rather than only after being accepted. On top of having to wait for membership, this was a slightly unpleasant surprise, particularly when compared with other Yahoo groups. In joining a group, I would prefer either waiting for membership approval or message approval, but not both. However, it does help to know that regular contributors are allowed to post without having to wait for approval. In general, the group appears to be informative in nature, with a general question-and-answer format. Users ask questions relating to iMac systems and applications, while other members respond to these. The atmosphere and spirit appear to be extremely friendly, open, informative, and helpful. This is also the case with messages from the group leaders, often referring to group members as “friends”. Rules and regulations are spelled out clearly, and members are invited to post any questions in case of uncertainty. While I do not know how long the group has been active, it appears to be for quite some time. It is stated that the iMac system has seen several changes since the group was created. I therefore assume from this and the membership size, that the group has existed at least for years. The front page of the group states that there are four full-time moderators to ensure that everything in the group occurs smoothly and according to the rules and regulations. In general, the group seems to be well regulated and organized. Members appear to understand the rules and regulations well. Files also include general “netiquette” rules in order to help members understand the best way of interacting online without causing needless offence. Although a little more involved than most other membership applications, I find myself appreciating the trouble the moderators are taking in order to ensure a safe and beneficial environment for all their members. III. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES While a group of almost 2,000 members hardly qualifies as “small”, it should be kept in mind that the online environment has also modified the concepts of large and small in terms of group interaction. Indeed, large and small groups can interact almost with equal ease in such an environment, with the only difference being the number of messages at any given time. The type of interaction remains more or less the same, with each message equally visible to each. In a real-time environment, small and large groups differ much more significantly than in the online environment. For this reason, I find that it is appropriate to consider literature that focus on small group interaction and the dynamics involved in such communication. A. Group Dynamics Myers & Anderson (2008, p. 6), for example note that there are both advantages and disadvantages connected to interacting in groups. The first notable advantage is access to resources: group members can support each other in terms of access to resources such as time, money, expertise, ability, or information, among others. Groups also hold the advantage of better understanding and retention; particularly in the case of study groups. Diversity is a further advantage, with the fourth mentioned advantage being creativity. The last is particularly useful if the group is required to generate ideas in a brainstorming session, for example. Disadvantages occur mostly when groups increase in size. This can result in group members having difficulty in coordinating, monitoring and regulating the various functions and tasks of the group. Particularly important in this regard are member misbehaviors and a lack of group interaction. Member misbehavior in an online environment include flaming and spam. Such misbehavior can be curbed by targeted and strong leadership, as well as an efficient allocation of power. According to Myers & Anderson (2008, p. 12), there are also various types of talk specifically involved in group interaction. Most notable for the purpose of this investigation are problem-solving talk and role talk. The former is applicable to accomplishing the group task. Members are required to participate in order to fulfil the function of the group. The latter concerns the role played by each group member. In an online environment, for example, new group members have the least power, with leaders and moderators having the most power. In this regard, the authors (p. 146) note the importance of group roles, which may change during the lifespan of a group. In this, they appear to prefer the functional approach to roles, as these focus on communicative behaviors within the group. This is particularly applicable in terms of the online group, as any “meeting” is necessarily also communicative. It is through communication that group roles are also established. Some roles are fluid and dynamic, while others are static, or subject to change as a result of specific occurrences, such as the retirement of a leader, for example. In terms of fluid roles, new group members may become established over time, and take on a more prominent role during group interaction. In an online environment, for example, a new group member who interacts regularly soon establishes him- or herself as a regular contributor and takes a more prominent role in the group. A particularly important role in the online group context is leadership. According to Meyers & Anderson (2008, p. 164), certain behaviors mark the leadership role. These include encouraging participation, monitoring progress, promoting diversity, and building consensus. In short, the group leader is to manage all cases of conflict in such a way that members experience their group encounters in as positive a way as possible. For an online environment, it can be said that a situational approach to leadership is most appropriate. This type of leadership approach depends upon the specific situation and its requirements for leadership. Conflict for example calls for a different type of leadership paradigm than monitoring progress or encouraging participation. The online context also calls for a particular type of leadership, such as enforcing the rules of netiquette, or other regulations relating to the specific group context. B. Netiquette In a widely cited and recognized manual, Netiquette, Virginia Shea disseminates that general rules and regulations of courtesy when interacting online. While this extends to all forms of online communication, it is also specifically applicable to online group communication. Rule 2, for example, states that the online group member is expected to follow the same behavioral standards as would be the case in real life. This rule relates to the tendency of the relative anonymity in the online context to discard inhibitions. While this is a wonderful and beneficial things for the shy person, others may not benefit so greatly. Some may for example be encouraged to say things they would not normally say, simply because the expression and reaction of readers are not immediately heard, felt, or seen. According to Shea, common courtesy also, in indeed particularly, extends to the online environment. Shea warns that netiquette can be violated either mildly or severely. Spam or flaming could for exampled be followed by fraud or predatory behavior. In this context, she cautions all Internet users to be not only courteous, but also careful of those who would abuse their power and position to victimize others. Unfortunately, this has become increasingly simple for those who have the technical knowledge to engage in such practices. C. Technological Perspective In general, however, many have benefited from using the Internet in a responsible and responsive way. In terms of group communication, open, fluid and dynamic groups are encouraged via online forums (McGraw-Hill, 2000). It also encourages diversity by opening communication channels to those who have been disenfranchised or disadvantaged in the historical context. Indeed, a lack of immediate visual evidence regarding race or any other visible divider has more or less levelled the playing field for those communicating online. Indeed, groups have finally evolved in such a way as to provide a truly diverse context from which to communicate. In the online context visible differences are subordinate to the more immediate focus of specific interest in the topic addressed by the online group. Another unique feature of online discussion groups is the possibility of functioning asynchronously. In the discussion board context, there is no preset ‘meeting’ of the whole group together. Instead, the setup of the group allows members to participate at their convenience. Messages remain online for those who wish to access and respond to them. This, according to McGraw-Hill (2000), leads to a higher quality of decisions and creativity, as members are allowed to take time for such interactions. Although McGraw-Hill’s Web site indicate great diversity in the findings, it remains a fact that online communication allows an extra avenue of communication for those who find this most useful. While not all groups and dynamics will for example benefit from online communication, many will. The key is choice; each individual is allowed to choose what works best for him or her. Another significant advantage of online groups is their global accessibility. Those needing information or support on specific issues may not find a local group that can help. In the online environment, however, the necessary information and support are only a search term and a click away. Indeed, this is also indicated by iMacChat’s home page: “You typed iMac, you typed SEARCH…” The implication is clearly that an online search yielded a helpful result. IV. APPLICATION: IMACCHAT A. Advantages and Disadvantages The size of the iMacChat group is its most advantageous feature, as the collective expertise of the group is significant. The other advantages noted by Meyers & Anderson are less significant, as they do not apply to the purpose of the group as such. Diversity for example is not an issue in terms of racial or other differentiation, as all group members share an interest in the iMac system, which is the main requirement for belonging to the group. The advantage of collective knowledge and expertise then overshadows the diversity paradigm. Cultural and racial diversity can be said to be replaced by the diversity of iMac systems represented by the ownership of group members. A further advantage is then that group members gain technical knowledge regarding the various iMac systems and applications available; knowledge they would not have gained by means of individual investigation. The creativity and retention advantages mentioned by the authors can be said to manifest themselves in the above-mentioned paradigm of learning about the various systems. Furthermore, having questions answered by several group members provides a wider perspective on problems or concerns experienced with various applications and systems that apply to the iMac. The disadvantages of monitoring and coordination in large groups do not apply to iMacChat, as all interaction occurs asynchronously in the online environment. Monitoring and coordination are as easy as accessing the message page and viewing the interaction. As mentioned, this interaction then resembles small groups in terms of visibility and understanding. The disadvantage of member misbehavior, however, does apply. Mitigating these is the task of the four group leaders or moderators, as they are known in the online context. Specifically, the iMacChat moderators have put systems in place to curb misbehavior such as spamming or flaming. In the “files” section, various documents note the punishments for misbehavior at various levels of severity. Mitigating measures include such actions as public warnings up to being banned from the group entirely. Specifically, misbehavior in the context of iMacChat also extends to posting messages that are widely off topic, such as messages aiming at religious indoctrination and other such posts. Issues of misbehavior are closely related to the Netiquette rules explicated by Shea. As mentioned above, Shea notes that online participants should apply the real-world rules of courtesy to the online environment as well. In a real-world context, a group participant would for example be less inclined towards unsocial behavior such as religious indoctrination. B. Group Talk and Roles Group talk and group roles in the iMacChat group closely relate to each other. The four group leaders or moderators have the highest status and authority in the group. They serve the function of monitoring and judgment. If misbehavior occurs, it is their task to curb this. It is also their task to approve or deny membership to new applicants, and they monitor any new incoming messages. Upon approval, it is their task to post the message on the board for the rest of the members to read and respond to. The type of talk that the group moderators engage in is very friendly and informal. The nature of the group dictates this type of talk, and moderators are very approachable. The reason for this is that the group has been founded as a problem-solving forum for those with iMac systems. As such, the context of the group needs to be formal and friendly. Group members need to feel secure in asking questions in order to find their solutions. While the group leaders are not the only ones responding to questions, they set the example for the atmosphere of the rest of the group. Even in terms of disciplinary action, should this prove necessary, the group leaders remain friendly, and operate from the paradigm of wishing to be helpful in promoting optimal interaction among group members. In their less pleasant tasks such as rejection or discipline, then, the group moderators extend their regret for the actions necessitated by certain members or prospective members of the group. In general, the group leaders function as part of the group itself, with as little authoritative division as possible between leadership and the rest of the group. The second level of group membership are regular contributors. These are generally people with substantial knowledge of the iMac system and applications, who function as providers of answers to the questions posted. These group members are allowed to post without being moderated, as they have earned the trust of the group leaders. In terms of talk, these group members are also both helpful and friendly, just like the leading moderators. It is however not part of their role to disseminate rules and regulations. In providing answers, they are as factual and informative as possible. If clarification is needed regarding a certain problem, such group members post clarifying questions before providing answers. All regular contributors are allowed to answer any given question, which provides a wider perspective on the questions involved. This is beneficial for users, as wider knowledge is gained on a particular application of the iMac system. As such, both those answering questions and those asking them benefit from the collective knowledge of the group. Regular answer contributors can also ask any questions that arise in their use of the iMac, and as such all group members teach and learn from each other, making the group a mutually beneficial forum for all involved. The third level of group membership are new members and those who do not contribute regularly. These users submit questions and answers under moderation. This means that these posts are subject to approval before being posted to the group. Although questions are generally posted by this group, answers are also allowed, and continuous regular posting allows these group members to advance to the level of regular contributors. The third level of membership is thus open to change and advancement. The leadership position can only be attained if one of the existing leaders resign, or if the existing leaders find that their increase of duties merit the recruitment of a larger body of leadership. IV. CONCLUSION In conclusion, it appears that the iMacChat group provides global benefits for its group members. Membership is contextualized by the uniform need for information and help with the iMac system. Most members of the group own an iMac system of some kind. Questions generally surround either the system and its functions, or new applications that members wish to buy or have bought. The group is very large, but can be said to function as a small group in the online context. Misbehaviors and problems are well controlled by the four moderators, and there appear to be few such issues in the context of the group. Bibliography McGraw-Hill. (2008). Technology and Small Groups. http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/comm/group/instructors/new_com.htm Myers, Scott, A. & Anderson, Carolyn (2008). Fundamentals of Small Group Communication. Sage Publications. Shea, Virginia. (2004) Netiquette. Albion.com. http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/index.html Appendix: Acceptance Messages. Message 1: Hi, Thank-you very much for applying to join iMacChat! Your membership will be approved as soon as possible. Meanwhile, please tell us a little bit about yourself and your mac. You can start posting to the group as soon as your membership is processed. This does not normally take very long. Please note: There are often internet delays, particularly at the weekend when equipment is off-line for maintenance, and your messages may not appear on Yahoo Groups immediately. If this happens, do not worry! Please bear with us while your application is processed. Thank-you. Message 2: File        : iMacChat  PrintMeOutAndPinMeUp.PDF Description : iMacChat Advert Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Message 3: Hi, Thank-you very much for joining us on iMacChat at Yahoo! Groups! As a new member please take a moment to review this short message. 1. This group is for users of the iMac and similar Macintosh computers. Please send in any queries you have, we just love your problems! 2. Apple Computer has introduced many new iMac models since this group was started, and there have been many new iMacChat members!   So, when you post to the list, please tell us what iMac model youve got, and what version of Mac OS you are using, or we wont be able to give a detailed answer. 3. It can be difficult to get the latest model iMac "stable". If this issue affects you, you can start posting to the group right after you join! Dont worry, well get your iMac up and running! 4. A  special "iMacChat Welcome" file containing technical information and more detailed instructions on using the group has been sent to your inbox. Check it out! 5. To start sending messages to members of this group, please send your to .  Say "Hi", and what model of iMac youve got. 6.  Important: if you click on REPLY in response to this message, or send to the group later, please *make sure* your email client has got "iMacChat@yahoogroups.com" and NOT "iMacChat-owner@yahoogroups.com" in your TO box. If you send to "iMacChat-owner" by mistake, Yahoo groups does not warn you that your message has been sent to oblivion in Cyberspace! To learn more about the iMacChat group, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iMacChat If you give up using the iMac you can unsubscribe by sending an email to iMacChat-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com To see and modify all of your groups, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups Have fun and enjoy iMacChat, Otto Nikolaus. Senior Beginners Advisor and Moderator, iMacChat Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Message 4: Hi, Thank-you very much for joining us on iMacChat at Yahoo! Groups! As a new member please take a moment to review this short message. 1. This group is for users of the iMac and similar Macintosh computers. Please send in any queries you have, we just love your problems! 2. Apple Computer has introduced many new iMac models since this group was started, and there have been many new iMacChat members!   So, when you post to the list, please tell us what iMac model youve got, and what version of Mac OS you are using, or we wont be able to give a detailed answer. 3. It can be difficult to get the latest model iMac "stable". If this issue affects you, you can start posting to the group right after you join! Dont worry, well get your iMac up and running! 4. A  special "iMacChat Welcome" file containing technical information and more detailed instructions on using the group has been sent to your inbox. Check it out! 5. To start sending messages to members of this group, please send your to .  Say "Hi", and what model of iMac youve got. 6.  Important: if you click on REPLY in response to this message, or send to the group later, please *make sure* your email client has got "iMacChat@yahoogroups.com" and NOT "iMacChat-owner@yahoogroups.com" in your TO box. If you send to "iMacChat-owner" by mistake, Yahoo groups does not warn you that your message has been sent to oblivion in Cyberspace! To learn more about the iMacChat group, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iMacChat If you give up using the iMac you can unsubscribe by sending an email to iMacChat-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com To see and modify all of your groups, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups Have fun and enjoy iMacChat, Otto Nikolaus. Senior Beginners Advisor and Moderator, iMacChat Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Message 5: ==== iMacChat ==== Glad you joined us, please read on...... Suitable topics are: The iMac computer, software and peripherals you can get for it, new Macintosh models, web sites, stuff to download... Moderation The group is currently set up so that all posts from new members have to approved by the moderators.  Regular contributors are allowed to post without  being checked. Off topic: Religion, copyright, explicit suggestions, financial incentives, bad language, URLs of porn sites, "Spam", "Trolling". Off topic, but allowed: You may post the URL of any web site you have personally created i.e. your home page, even if it is not about the Macintosh. You can post the URL of any website, newsgroup, mailing list which you think is of interest to subscribers to this list. Known user issues with the iMac and associated models: 1. If you fall for the very latest iMac model, then you may have to apply various updates and "fixes" get it stable.  Dont worry, well get you up and running.. 2. There have been a number of unannounced changes to iMac hardware, and software. In particular, the fonts supplied with the most recent models are not the same as those supplied with earlier systems.  If you buy a new iMac model, you should not transfer the System Folder from your old machine. 3. Fonts supplied for use with other makes of computer should not be installed on the Macintosh, unless you are sure you know what you are doing... 4.  The Macintosh sometimes does not display fonts correctly on the screen. This has been an issue since the earliest Macintosh models. 5. The use of "third party", "shareware" or "freeware"  fonts can cause the machine to freeze for no apparent reason. If in doubt, remove "suspect" fonts from your  machine. 6.  If you have to completly re-install Mac OS, for example after fitting a replacement hard drive, you MUST use the "Software Install" or "Software Restore" disk that was originally supplied with YOUR machine. Once you have installed your original Mac OS, you can then apply any applicable updates.  If you have lost your install CD, you are allowed to borrow a CD from a friend who has an iMac which is identical to yours. An install CD for an iMac which is a similar vintage to yours will probably also work. If in doubt, consult the group. 7. Do not download and apply internet-based updates to Mac OS unless you are sure they are applicable to your machine. Dont use the QuickTime updater, unless you are sure your computer needs it. 8. If you apply an "Update too far", then "revert" the machine using your original Mac Software install disk as in point 5, above. 9. The internal CD/DVD  does not always accept "home-made" disks. You may need to invest in an external CD/DVD writer to get round this. 10. If your iMac is "unstable", you get a "hang", a "soft freeze" or a "hard freeze".  A "hang" means the rotating "busy" cursor goes round and around for ages!  You can still move the mouse. Sometimes, a "hang" will clear after a minute or two; sometimes it wont. A "soft freeze" is when the application you are working with hangs up, but you can still move the mouse out of the window and re-start the machine.  A "hard freeze" means the computer has locked up completely. 11. There are two different versions of the iMac -  There is a Power PC version and there is the Intel Core Duo version. The Intel-based iMac does not  support Mac OS Xs classic mode. This means you cannot use install CDs which worked under Mac OS 9 or earlier. This caveat may apply to your printer, scanner or digital camera software, so beware!  There is a freeware app called "Sheepshaver", which might enable you to get around this, but it only emulates a beige Mac II (discontinued January 1990) running Mac OS 7.5. Recommended for die-hard enthusiasts only. Asking us for help: When posting to iMacChat, please  ALWAYS include information about your iMac model and your version of Mac OS, otherwise we wont know what machine you are talking about! The group.consists entirely of volunteers like you  - please allow us TIME to answer you query. We probably know the answer, but we need time to type in the reply.  Please give us a few days to respond. If you discover the answer before there are anyreplies, please post the solution to the group yourself. Quoting..... "Dear Friends:    Please edit your replies.  Do NOT include the entire original message(s) in your reply.       Only include two or three sentences from the original post to which you are replying.  This is enough to follow the thread discussed.    This request is made for the benefit of members who have limited e-mail bandwidth and/or pay per minute for their internet connection.    Everytime someone replies to a post causing the post to snowball, i.e., grow larger and larger.  This takes more and more time to download therefore, using up the bandwidth of members who have limited e-mail bandwidth and/or paying per minute for their internet connection.  Repeatedly the receipt and download of the same message with more and more replies attached costs those members more in fees as the download takes much more time.     Please put yourselves in the place of those members who have limited e-mail bandwidth and/or pay per minute for their internet connection.  How would you feel if this was your situation?    Courtesy is the first rule of Netiquette.  THINK before you hit the "send" button or the enter key on your keyboard.    Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.  Thank you very much indeed. Cheers......." End of quotation Grammar and spelling Please edit your Post and check it for grammatical and spelling mistakes. Although it does not really matter if there are spelling mistakes in your Posts, remember that Posts are archived, and once you click on "send" it will be there for posterity! The subject line Keep the subject line as short as possible.  Eg. put "Umax 1220U" in preference to "Umax 1220U flatbed scanner" The subject line may be humorous. eg. "Freeze nightmare" Digest Mode If you subscribe in digest mode, please change the subject line from "Digest Number X" to the subject youre talking about, and change the "TO:" field in your email client to "imacchat@yahoogroups.com". If you dont do this, your post will be automatically rejected by Yahoo Groups. Jargon Here is some jargon you can use -  at least sound expert when you dont know what you are talking about! ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.  Similar to a modem, but with higher capacity. It is called "asymmetric" because it allows you to make voice calls while your computer is connected to the Internet. Alpha Quality - a preliminary version of the software, not intended for end-users. Apple - name of the computer firm founded by Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak in the 1970s. The name "apple" was originally chosen as a joke, and is not original - it was first coined by the "Beatles" a UK pop group.  Do not confuse the rival and completely separate "Apple Records" with "Apple Computer". Beige Mac  - old pre-iMac models of Macintosh Beta Test Version - software released to the public which has not been properly tested for reliability, which you foolishly downloaded and installed on your computer. Blu-ray - A 50 Gig video format on DVD sized disks. Byte - 8 binary digits of Computer storage space Eg "10101111" CGI - common gateway interface. A program which runs on a remote server which your computer can use by executing a script from within your web browser. Typically it would be used to add your name to a guest book, create a list of menu choices and so on. Classic  - Macintosh Software which works on a 68k Mac or a Power PC, but not on an iMacIntel. Client - a program used to transfer information from another computer Component video - a connection socket where brightness and colour information have separate circuits. Composite video -  a connection socket which uses a just a single wire in an earth shielding called a "co-axial" lead. It is used to connect television aerials and video recorders and very old home computers like like the Commodore 64. CRT - Cathode Ray Tube. An older type of screen used in television sets and the earliest iMac models. Cyan - version 10.0 of Mac OS X. Driver - software, usually supplied on CD for use with an external device, such a scanner, printer or digital camera.  Make sure the device you propose to buy has an installation CD for your version of Mac OS. Dual Core - A silicon chip which contains a second processor. DVD rewriter - A disk drive which allows you to re-use the same DVD. DVD - Digital Video Disk. DVI - A socket which allows a digital video connection to be made. Firewall - A system to prevent unauthorised internet access from a remote computer. Floppy Disk - A 3.25" magnetic disk housed in a small plastic square housing, which stores 1.40MB of data. You can purchase "2HD Mac formatted" diskettes. Windows diskettes must be reformatted on the Mac to work with the Macintosh filing system.  You can save files onto a Windows diskette on the Mac, but sometimes the Windows machine cannot read the disk. ftp - file transfer protocol.  Method use to upload and download files to the internet. ftp client - computer program used for ftp. G3 - The term "G3" refers to a plug-in circuit board that originally fitted as an upgrade to a Beige Mac Power PC. iMacs have a built-in G3 card as standard, and can run software written for earlier Macintosh models. G4 - The next upgrade from the G3, fitted to flat screen iMacs. Gig - Gigabyte. 1024 megabytes of store. Hard disk - Similar to a floppy disk, but much faster and higher capacity. Hard freeze  - As with a "soft freeze", but you cannot move the mouse. Host computer - Usually a mainframe computer you connect to, using your computer as a terminal.  A home pc can be used as a host computer, but its not as reliable. HTML - hypertext markup language, used to create a web page. http - hypertext transfer protocol, used to load a web page into your computer. IBM - International Business Machines. Name of a firm which originally supplied mainframe computer installations typically occupying a room. IBM Compatible -  General name for any computer which runs Windows.  IBM had little to do with the original "IBM Compatibles" and "Clones" - they merely allowed their name to be used, the operating system being provided by Microsoft. iMac - name of a range of Macintosh models specifically designed for use with the Internet, which first shipped in August 1998. Intel - Name of the processor used in the "iMacIntel". This name was originally an abbreviation of "Integrated Electronics" - a partially-owned IBM subsidiary which designs and manufactures silicon chips. Internet - abbreviation of the "International Network" used for email, telnet, ftp, newgroups, web pages etc.  Do not confuse the term "Internet" with the term "Web", which only means the part of the Internet that deals in HTML pages. Issue  - When you computer is not working properly, you say you have an "issue" with it! Jaguar - version 10.2 of Mac OS X LCD - Liquid Crystal Display.  An alternative to a CRT screen. Leopard.  A version of Mac OX  released in October 2007. It allows iMacs with Duo processors to boot into Windows as well as Mac OS, amongst other things... Macintosh - Mouse-based graphics computer system introduced in January 1984 by Apple Computer Inc., named after a variety of apple grown in California. Mac OS - Macintosh Operating System versions 8 to 9. Earlier versions were called "System 5, 6, 7",  etc. Mac OS X - Pronounced "Mac OS Ten", not "Mac OS Ex". (Your ex is someone you are not with anymore!)  The versions as of 2006 are:  10.0 Puma, 10.2 Jaguar, 10.3 Panther, 10.4 Tiger, and Leopard Mainframe.  A large computer typically occupying a room, rated for continuous operation which you would connect to when accessing the Internet. Market Quality - a tested reliable program. MB - Megabyte Megabyte - 1024 bytes of store. Microsoft Office Word - a word processing program which needs to be "activated" online with a registration key. The "time-limited demo" has features missing and you cannot convert it into a full version of the program - you have to purchase an installation CD separately. When you run the MS Office Word installer, it removes the "trial version" and replaces it with the retail version. The Demo of Word version looks just like the retail version, but dont be fooled - although there is a box to type in a registration key, it doesnt work. The only way to get the retail version is to purchase the CD. There appear to be facilities to download a working version, but this does not work at the moment. (June 2008). M$ - Microsoft Windows - a rival to Mac OS. Modem - short for "Modulator-Demodulator".  A device which allow you to call the Internet from a telephone socket without any other equipment. If you have difficulty connecting, set your modem speed to "V34" Online - connected to a device which is in operation. PC - Personal Computer, a machine which has been designed so that it can be switched off when nobody needs to use it.  A "mainframe" computer is a high specification machine designed for continuous operation. The iMac is a personal computer, and you can expect "reliability issues". PPC - Power Macintosh Panther - version 10.3 of Mac OS X Phishing -An  Internet Fraud where you a tricked into revealing personal details online. Pirate - A person who does not believe in Copyright. Puma - version 10.1 of Mac OS X Rosetta - an emulator program which allows some software compiled for earlier Macintosh models to run on the iMacintel. Router - a small switch box containing the electronic circuit necessary to connect one or more computers to the Internet via Ethernet and ADSL instead of using a modem. S6 - An abbreviation for "System 6", which worked on a 68k Mac. Many Mac users are still using it - QuarkXpress 3.3  works under S6 for example. S7.5 - An upgrade from S6 which worked on both 68k and PPC Macs. Server - program such as "Apache" running on a host computer which sends you web pages or error messages Soft freeze - The computer does not respond to commands, but you can still move the mouse. and restart the machine. 68k Mac - a Macintosh which uses the 68000 processor, which is not a "Power Mac" or "PPC". Spam - Originally the name of a tinned meat made from pork and ham. It was supplied to the troops in the second world war who had to eat it day after day because thats all there was. Spam came to mean something you are supplied with but do not want, and was subsequently featured in a sketch on "Monty Pythons Flying Circus" (a show on BBC TV). The catch phrase was "Spam, spam, smam and more SPAM". On the Internet, it means emails you get, but dont want! Stability Issue - the manufacturer has released a version of the software before it was ready. TCP - transmission control protocol.  Method used for file transfer over the Internet. Terabyte 1024 Gig of Store. Tiger - version 10.4 of Mac OS X. Trojan - a malicious program disguised as an "update" to Mac OS or whatever. You download it, and it trashes your machine. Troll - A person who posts material which is deliberately intended to annoy is called a "troll". Unstable - liable to freeze. USB - Universal Serial Bus which earlier iMac models used to attach keyboard, printer, mouse etc. USB2 - a later version of USB. You can connect a USB2 device, such a printer, to a USB socket if your printer driver supports the older connection, in which case the device will operate at the slower speed. Virus - A small program which installs itself on your machine without your knowledge and causes mysterious and maddening errors. Vogon - A person who is totally opposed to the existence of the iMac, and who is always complaining about the infringement of copyright.  This term originated from "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy".  Vogon poetry is the worst in the Universe, but the Vogons themselves think it is the very best, and will include any virus or trojan to protect their copyright. Web page - a document loaded into your computer via the Internet, using hypertext transfer prototol. Windows - Operating System for IBM Compatible computers.  Bear in mind that if you want to run Windows on the iMac Intel, youll have to buy a copy of Windows XP with Service Pack2, and download the experimental, but free, "Boot camp" software. Vista - A version of Windows released in 2007. If you have an OEM "Original Equipment Manufacturer" version which came with your Windows machine, you cant use the "Windows Anytime Upgrade" CD to install Windows on your Macintosh under "Bootcamp" or "Parallels"  etc. It is possible to run the installer, and install Windows, but the resulting installation cannot be activated. You have been warned. Windows cannot be activated on the Macintosh under Bootcamp etc., using the CD you have used to install Windows on your PC. - you have to pay extra for a separate installation CD with a different product key. You cant have the same copy of Windows on your Mac and PC at the same time - they have thought of that! Have fun and enjoy iMacChat. Thank you. The iMacChat team, last updated 14-Jun-07 Message 6: Dear Friends    Please edit your replies.  Do NOT include the entire original message(s) in your reply.   Please set your email client so that it does not automatically quote the entire message you are replying to. If you dont know how to do this, please send to the list  for advice!!!!    Only include two or three sentences from the original post to which you are replying.  This is enough to follow the thread discussed.    This request is made for the benefit of members who have to pay per minute for their internet connection.    Courtesy is the first rule of Netiquette.  Always scroll down and check your post for unnecessary material. THINK before you hit the "send" button or the enter key on your keyboard.    Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.  Thank you very much indeed.     Cheers! The iMacChat team Thanks. Read More