Originally used to describe outdated or slow
hardware (referring to the power of a kitchen toaster), the term is now often used to describe a product that joins various components in one easy-to-use package (referring to the ease of using a kitchen toaster). For example, a video toaster is a
desktop video editor that features all the
software and
hardware needed to create broadcast-quality video in one
integrated system. An
intranet toaster is an all-in-one
server that can be connected to an existing
LAN and configured through a Web
browser. The term can also refer to both qualities -- easy-to-use but less powerful than other products.
