1 / 28

So, You Want to Buy a Computer...

So, You Want to Buy a Computer. A Community Service Lecture. Brought to you by: The Burlington County Library System and The Burlington County College Educational Technology Center. Today’s lecture is sponsored by:. Please support these institutions generously!. Software.

carver
Download Presentation

So, You Want to Buy a Computer...

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. So, You Want to Buy a Computer... A Community Service Lecture Brought to you by: The Burlington County Library System and The Burlington County College Educational Technology Center

  2. Today’s lecture is sponsored by: Please support these institutions generously!

  3. Software “A computer without software is a boat anchor, and not a very good one at that!”

  4. Two Types of Software • System Software • IBM or MAC • Application Software • Office Suite • Communication • Utilities • Other

  5. System Software • Controls the hardware resources of your PC • Organizes files and folders (directories) • Manipulates files • Launches applications and controls how they run and how they interact with: • The hardware • The user • Other applications

  6. System Software • Windows95 • Mac OS 8 • Unix • Comes in “flavors” • VMS • CMS • and others.

  7. Applications Software • Allows the user to perform productive work • Examples include: • Word Processing • Web Browsing • Spreadsheets • Presentation Software • Databases • And many more!

  8. Hardware “The parts of a computer that you can kick are hardware. The parts you can only swear at are software!”

  9. System Unit • Box which holds most other components • Typically sold as a “case/power supply” • Physical size varies greatly • What will “fit” in a case varies due to this • “Tower” configuration stands upright • “Desktop” configurations is horizontal • On last / Off first!

  10. Central Processor Unit (CPU) • The “brain” of your computer • Has a “clock speed” • Speed is measured in MHz or GHz • (Megahertz / “Megs” or Gigahertz / "Gigs) • Typical speeds are between 750 and 1,500 Megs (1.5 Gigs) • Usually has other amenities such as: • Floating Point Unit (for computing “fractions”) • Cache (high speed storage/retrieval of data)

  11. Memory • Measured in Megabytes (like storage) • Is often confused with storage! • Memory and Storage are not the same things!

  12. Memory • Usually upgraded in “banks” • Typical systems today have between 64 and 256 Megs of memory • Typical systems today have between 20 and 60 Gigs of storage • That’s a BIG difference!

  13. Floppy Disk Drive(s) • Typically 3.5” disks • Typical storage per disk: 1.44 Megabytes • Disks are removable • Disks can be damaged by • Heat • Fluids • Magnetic fields

  14. Hard of Fixed Disk Drive(s) • Typically not seen by the user • Typical storage per disk: 10 Gigabytes • Disks are not removable • Disks can be damaged by: • “Hard knocks”

  15. Both Hard and Fixed Disk Drives • Must be formatted prior to first use • Floppies can be purchased pre-formatted • Hard drives are formatted when the PC is built • Are used to store information. Information must then be loaded into memory prior to use by the CPU. • Store finite amounts of information • Costs vary

  16. CD-ROM Drives • Read Only • Store up to 650 Megabytes of data • Typically access information slower than a hard drive … • Access speed is measured as a factor of typical access speed, this 2x is 2 times as fast as a “typical” CD-ROM • DVD all that and video too!

  17. Sound Card • Not required • Plays sounds through external speakers • Mono or Stereo • May also control your CD-ROM or your joystick, for playing some games

  18. Video Card • May have some memory associated with it • Typically between 4 and 16 Megs • Will control your monitor • Has a “resolution” associated with it, just like a monitor • SVGA • XGA • SXGA (UGA)

  19. Modem • Allows your computer to connect to others via the telephone system • Has a speed measured in bits per second • Or Kilobits per second • Typical speeds between 28.8Kbps and 56.0Kbps

  20. Network Card • Allows your computer to connect to others via a Local Area Network • Uses either Ethernet or Token Ring protocol • Uses different types of wiring • Typical speed between 4 and 100 Megabits per second

  21. Keyboard / Mouse • Primary input device(s) • Keyboard may have 101 - 104 keys • The number of mouse buttons varies • One button on a Mac • Two or Three buttons on an IBM (compatible) Personal Computer • Typically cost between $10 and $60

  22. COM and LPT ports • LPT (parallel) ports for printer / scanner / external storage device • COM ports for mouse or external modem • May be other uses

  23. Monitor • Physical Size • Like a TV size is measured as a diagonal • Standard sizes today are between 13” and 17” • Resolution • Measured in “picture elements” or Pixels • SVGA = 800x600 pixels • XGA = 1024x768 pixels • Typically Cost $250 - $500

  24. Monitor (cont.) • A monitor is your primary output device • It is frequently the most expensive single component associated with your PC • Is connected to a Graphics Card in your System Unit

  25. Printer • A printer is your “hard copy” output device • Color is available at a reasonable cost, today • Is connected to a parallel port on your System Unit • Cost of operation is important

  26. The Next Step(s) • Now you know a lot more about computers than most people! • The next step is to research, research, research. • Then you will be ready to buy your PC.

  27. The End Time now: 9:26:37 AM

More Related