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Back to Basics

Back to Basics. Part 1. WHAT BASICS?. Hardware Standard Software Terminology. HARDWARE. ON THE OUTSIDE. Screen Keyboard Pointing Device – Mouse and/or Touchpad. ON THE OUTSIDE. ON THE OUTSIDE. Most Computers also have: Microphone – may be built-in or separate

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Back to Basics

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  1. Back to Basics Part 1

  2. WHAT BASICS? • Hardware • Standard Software • Terminology

  3. HARDWARE

  4. ON THE OUTSIDE • Screen • Keyboard • Pointing Device – Mouse and/or Touchpad

  5. ON THE OUTSIDE

  6. ON THE OUTSIDE • Most Computers also have: • Microphone – may be built-in or separate • Speakers – may be built-in or separate • Many also have a Webcam [Web Camera] • Connectors for other bits like Printers

  7. ON THE OUTSIDE

  8. CONNECTORS • Connectors are there to let the computer use or operate other pieces of equipment • Connectors come in different shapes and sizes – for technical reasons – they are often colour coded to help work out what goes where • NEVER FORCE A CABLE OR DEVICE IN TO A CONNECTOR!

  9. KEYBOARDS

  10. KEYBOARDS

  11. KEYBOARDS

  12. KEYBOARDS • Keyboards are usually language specific [English, French etc.] with respect to key positions & markings. • Keyboards can be switched to alternative language layouts – can be confusing • Some keyboards have alternative key options accessed by combination key depressions

  13. MICE? MOUSES? MEESE? Two button Three Button Four Button

  14. MORE ON MOUSE • One Click, Two Click, Left Click, Right Click • Decisions – Decisions – but so helpful! • THE POWER OF RIGHT CLICK IS IN YOUR GRASP – MORE LATER!

  15. ON THE INSIDE

  16. ON THE INSIDE • The “Mother Board” which includes: • The Processing Unit [Processor] • RAM [Random Access Memory- used by YOU] • ROM [Read Only Memory- used by the COMPUTER] • Controllers for various functions • May be separate or built into the Mother Board

  17. MEMORY & STORAGE • It is important not to confuse these two things • Memory [RAM] holds it’s information ONLY until the electricity is switched off – then it is lost forever! Basically the “work in progress” area • Storage [ Hard Drives/Flash Drives/CD & DVD Drives] do NOT lose their information when the electricity is switched off.

  18. MEMORY • In most modern computers, RAM is measured in Gigabytes [Gb] – In computers used at home, 1 to 16 Gigabytes is the range – 3 to 6Gb is more typical • For any given version of Windows, a minimum amount of memory is needed. However, with just that minimum, the computer is likely slow • Usually need at least 1Gb more than the minimum for acceptable performance – more is always better IF it is usable – being there does NOT imply this • Your computer may be physically limited as to how much memory it can have

  19. STORAGE • This varies according to type • Hard Drives are typically from 250 Gigabytes to 1 ½ Terabytes • Flash drives are now usually from 2 to 64 Gigabytes • DVD’s – either 4.7 Gigabytes or 9.5 Gigabytes • CD’s are 700 Megabytes

  20. STORAGE • INTERNAL HARD DRIVE: • Operating System including Services and Utilities • Application Programs • Data – the work created by you [Files, e-mails, etc.] • Can be used for Backup but has risks • EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE: • Full Backup including System image • Extra Data Storage • Archiving • Moving Data between computers • FLASH DRIVE: • Backup – probably Data only • Moving Data between computers

  21. STORAGE • DVD/CD: • Full Backup including System image • Extra Data Storage • Archiving • Moving Data between computers • Relatively inefficient – especially CD. Costly unless use rewritable formats but still need many disks for full backup

  22. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? • It means - How much information can be stored in the “device” • The numbers you are going to see are to give an idea only – there are small differences that are only really important at a higher technical level • Easiest way – and a simplification - to think is: • 1 Byte = 1 Letter • A= 1 Byte, AB = 2 Bytes ABC = 3 Bytes

  23. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? • 1 Kilobyte = 1000 Bytes = 1,000 Letters • 1 Megabyte = 1000 Kilobytes = 1,000,000 Letters • 1 Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes = 1,000,000,000 Letters • 1 Terabyte = 1000 Gigabytes = 1,000,000,000,000 Letters

  24. IN REAL LIFE? • A letter of one full page – 100 Kilobytes • Picture from a digital camera – 2 Megabytes • A Movie – 5 Gigabytes

  25. LET’S GET SWITCHED ON!

  26. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? • A small program [The “Boot” program] built into the Mother Board “woke up” the computer and started to load the Operating System – the program that runs and manages the computer and helps you use the computer • The Operating System then loaded other software that it [or you] needs to work or that it has been told to load by “the user”

  27. THESE INCLUDE: • Programs used by the computer itself to run and manage things - Services • Programs used by you to run and manage things – Utilities • Programs used by you to do things you want to do - Applications

  28. IT’S TIME TO EXPLORE THE DESKTOP JUNGLE

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