plug-and-play

Definition: Accessory which, when connected to the computer, will work with minimum of set-up and installation: in particular, without having to tell the computer what is connected or where. * PCI boards are plug-and-play on Apple Macs: once slotted in, there is usually nothing more than needs be done to use the board although a control panel may be installed to change settings. Smug and play Plug-and-play is a secret that Windows users were let into years after it was standard in the Macintosh world: it was a much trumpeted feature of Windows 95. But even now, it is far easier to get most peripherals recognised by a Mac than the same peripheral recognised by a Windows machine, especially with USB and FireWire devices.

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