mail

use when referring to generic e-mail

Mail

when referring to a specific product with "Mail" as part of the name; e.g., "VMS Mail" but EUDORA mail" and "Unix mail"

mailing list (or electronic mailing list)

a list of e-mail addresses identified by a single name, to which individuals subscribe. The list is used as a forum for the exchange of ideas on a particular topic. Informally (some would say incorrectly) referred to as a "listserv."   See also "list server" and "discussion group."

Maillist (or Mailing List)

a (usually automated) system that allows people to send e-mail to one address, whereupon their message is copied and sent to all of the other subscribers to the maillist. In this way, people who have many different kinds of e-mail access can participate in discussions together.

Mb

megabit; one million bits; e.g., 6400Mb, no space

MB

megabyte; one million bytes; e.g., 6400MB, no space

Mbps

megabits per second; e.g., 6400Mbps, no space

MHz

megahertz; e.g., 12 MHz

mips

million instructions per second; e.g., 104 mips

mirror

generally speaking, “to mirror” is to maintain an exact copy of something. Probably the most common use of the term on the Internet refers to “mirror sites” which are web sites, or FTP sites that maintain exact copies of material originated at another location, usually in order to provide more widespread access to the resource.  Another common use of the term “mirror” refers to an arrangement where information is written to more than one hard disk simultaneously, so that if one disk fails, the computer keeps on working without losing anything.     See also: FTP , Web

multi

prefix, no hyphen; e.g., multimedia

multimedia

one word, no hyphen   Disseminating information in more than one form. It includes the use of text, audio, graphics, animated graphics and full-motion video.