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Monday, October 21, 2002
ITerminology

Travel weight

The total weight of a notebook computer package that includes the notebook, transformer, carrying case, external drives, cables, full-size battery pack and adapters for connecting accessories — all devices that are necessary to keep a mobile computing environment functional. Travel weight is a concern for notebook users who rely on the mobility of their notebook devices. A notebook’s travel weight is different than its system weight, which refers to the weight of just the notebook device and not any of the accessories. Unless the term travel weight is used, one should assume that any quoted weight only refers to the system weight.

Sandbox

A security measure in the Java development environment. The sandbox is a set of rules that are used when creating an applet that prevents certain functions when the applet is sent as part of a Web page. When a browser requests a Web page with applets, the applets are sent automatically and can be executed as soon as the page arrives in the browser. If the applet is allowed unlimited access to memory and operating system resources, it can do harm in the hands of someone with malicious intent. The sandbox creates an environment in which there are strict limitations on what system resources the applet can request or access. Sandboxes are used when executable code comes from unknown or untrusted sources and allow the user to run untrusted code safely.