PCMag Encyclopedia
What's in this Encyclopedia
Following are samples of the more than 50,000 definitions, photos, diagrams and charts in this reference (see About the Author below).
Hot Topics
Of course, AI is the hottest tech term on the planet (check out our AI glossary). Crypto is up and down but still on people's minds (see crypto glossary), and the amazing chip is science fiction. See active area, chip, chip manufacturing and hot topics and trends.
Talk Like a Pro
This is the only encyclopedia that highlights the correct way to speak like a pro; for example, never mix up terms in never say. See dataset, nontrivial, intranet, smart, virtual and digispeak.
You Wouldn't Think to Look Up
See technology bloopers, Bitcoin pizza, Does it matter?, Apple in China, AI secret sauce, good user interface, naming misnomers, underwater datacenter, smart, wares and home theater.
A Course in Computer Literacy
This reference is designed to teach, not just explain, and every fundamental computer term is included. See computer, cloud, data processing, PC, information system, binary, program, operating system, cache, application, chip and storage vs. memory.
Thousands of Images and Diagrams
The encyclopedia contains more than ten thousand photos, diagrams, charts and tables.
Our Cross Referencing Helps You Learn
Our 70,000+ links within the definitions cross refence to supporting concepts and products.
Concepts
Every important technical concept is included. See chip, graphics pipeline, LCD, OLED, SSD, software stack, flash memory and byte addressable.
Crypto Blockchains
There are more than a thousand crypto terms in this reference (see crypto glossary).
It Takes Two to Tango
Hardware is useless without software, and vice versa. See smartphone, tablet, desktop computer, x86, ARM, Apple M series, image editor, application suite and Web browser.
Popular Devices and Standards
Quick summaries. See iPhone versions, iPad, Mac models, Galaxy S, Pixel phone and standards.
History
Everything stems from the past. See early calculators, early computers, early memory and early direct access devices.
Programming
The heart and soul of tech, major languages and programming concepts are included. See source code, programming concepts, programming language, if-then-else, program logic and AI programming.
Essential Charts
Very useful charts for students and coders. See ASCII chart, space/time and binary values.
Networking
All important networking terms are here. See Internet, WAN, LAN, Ethernet, switch, wireless router and access point.
Humor Is Essential
Face it... tech can be tedious, and cartoons appear where applicable. See how to spoof your techie friends, buffer flush and Stringy Floppy.
About the Author
Now in his eighties, Alan Freedman still authors what he started more than forty years ago. It began in the late 1970s when no dictionary was able to complement the computer literacy seminars he presented to thousands of managers. So in 1981 he wrote one. See about this encyclopedia and reviews of this encyclopedia.
The Classic Nerd
Freedman was a lucky guy in 1962. Only two years into his career, he could sit for part of the day. See plugboard.
At HumanX AI Conference in Las Vegas
In 2025, 63 years later, Freedman is still learning. Although he knows a lot about the tech world, his passion is the chip. In live presentations, he proves it is "magic." See HumanX and about this encyclopedia.