In General...what is backwards compatibility

[Dude]

I woke up the other morning thinking about this

what is usually meant by this term

is a pc term?

 

[Conor]

I woke up the other morning thinking about this

what is usually meant by this term

is a pc term?

No. Applies to alot of things.

Basically, it means a new piece of equipment or a component can
function or interface with older equipment.

 

[Moonlit]

Hi,

Compatible with older generations (either software or hardware). For
instance the latest ms-word can also read files generated by previous
versions so it is backward compatible. You cannot connect an ATA harddisk to
a S-ATA connector, so that is not backwards compatible.

--


Regards, Ron AF Greve

http://moonlit.xs4all.nl

 

[Brad Houser]

I woke up the other morning thinking about this

what is usually meant by this term

is a pc term?

In computer speak,

Something is backwards compatible if it supports hardware or software from
the generation it replaced.

for example:
Windows XP has new features but it runs most software from Windows 2000.

Similarly with Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4, NT4 with 98, 98 with 95, etc.

Brad H
<not speaking for Intel>