Short for
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, a
power management specification developed by
Intel,
Microsoft, and Toshiba. ACPI, which will be part of the next version of
Windows, enables the
operating system to control the amount of power given to each device attached to the computer. With ACPI, the operating system can turn off
peripheral devices, such as a
CD-ROM players, when they're not in use. As another example, ACPI will enable manufacturers to produce computers that automatically power up as soon as you touch the
keyboard.
