The term desktop has two meanings when we're talking about computers.
- A desktop computer, also called a PC, is a computer that is installed on a desk, and normally isn't moved around. This contrasts with a laptop, which is a portable computer.
- The desktop screen of an operating system, which is the screen shown "in the back" when all windows are minimized. It generally has icons for quick access of installed programs and an image called the "wallpaper" in the background.
The desktop computer is called desktop because it's on top of a desk. The desktop screen is called desktop because it's based on the concept of an office desk, with various with various things that you can reach with your hands and grab, which, in the computer, are analogous to the icons you can click on to open programs and files to interact with.
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