Personal Computers
This picture shows some of the main parts of a personal computer
A personal computer (often called a PC) is a small machine that fits onto a desk and can be used by one person. Today, personal computers are as familiar as televisions and pens. There are over 1 billion of them in use throughout the world. This is an amazing fact when you think the first personal computer wasn't available until 1977.
Before personal computers were developed, all computers were mainframes. Mainframes are large and expensive and were only used by big organizations. Personal computers became popular because they were small and cost less than one percent of the price of a mainframe.
Since the mid 1980's, personal computers have become even smaller and cheaper, as well as much more powerful.
Before personal computers were developed, all computers were mainframes. Mainframes are large and expensive and were only used by big organizations. Personal computers became popular because they were small and cost less than one percent of the price of a mainframe.
Since the mid 1980's, personal computers have become even smaller and cheaper, as well as much more powerful.
Key Dates in the history of personal computers
1950-70 Mainframe computers are used in large organizations
1971 With the development of the chip, computers become much smaller.
The first PC is sold for individual use. It didn't have its own monitor, but used a television screen.
1975 The first PC with a screen and keyboard is sold in kit form. It is named Altair, after a planet in the TV series Star Trek.
1977 The first ready-made PCs with screens and keyboards are produced.
1979 First software program for PC users is designed. This enabled everyone to work with personal computers, not only experts who could write their own programs.
1981 IBM, a US company, brings out its first PC. Soon many other companies design personal computers based on the IBM PC. The similarity between these machines means that different brands of PCs can communicate with each other.
1984 Apple introduces the Macintosh with mouse and windows interface.
1990 The World Wide Web is started.
1994 Over 50 million PCs are in use throughout the world. Many people are buying them for their homes. As technology develops, models become smaller and smaller.
1995 Hotmail is started.
1998 Google is founded.
2002 Approximately 1 billion PC's sold
2006 Skype announces it has over 100 million registered users.
2007 iPhone makes its debut
2010 Two billion videos a day are watched on YouTube
1971 With the development of the chip, computers become much smaller.
The first PC is sold for individual use. It didn't have its own monitor, but used a television screen.
1975 The first PC with a screen and keyboard is sold in kit form. It is named Altair, after a planet in the TV series Star Trek.
1977 The first ready-made PCs with screens and keyboards are produced.
1979 First software program for PC users is designed. This enabled everyone to work with personal computers, not only experts who could write their own programs.
1981 IBM, a US company, brings out its first PC. Soon many other companies design personal computers based on the IBM PC. The similarity between these machines means that different brands of PCs can communicate with each other.
1984 Apple introduces the Macintosh with mouse and windows interface.
1990 The World Wide Web is started.
1994 Over 50 million PCs are in use throughout the world. Many people are buying them for their homes. As technology develops, models become smaller and smaller.
1995 Hotmail is started.
1998 Google is founded.
2002 Approximately 1 billion PC's sold
2006 Skype announces it has over 100 million registered users.
2007 iPhone makes its debut
2010 Two billion videos a day are watched on YouTube
Create Your Own Personal Computer Timeline
Use Microsoft Word to create a PC timeline. You must include 15 key facts with the year in which the feature made its debut. You may use facts from the timeline above but you must also include 3 facts whch are not mentioned above.
Once in Word, go to INSERT and then to SHAPES. Here you can choose shapes and then pick the design you would like to use for your timeline.
Once in Word, go to INSERT and then to SHAPES. Here you can choose shapes and then pick the design you would like to use for your timeline.
Portables
Model 100 Micro Executive Workstation
During the 1980's, personal computers were developed that were small enough to be picked up. These are called portables.
The biggest portables weigh about 15lb. That's about the weight of a young baby, so they are not that easy to carry. Older models needed electricity, so they could only be used where there was an electrical socket.
Notebook computers, also known as laptops, are roughly the size of a notebook and weigh anywhere between 3lb - 6lb, depending on the model. The screen is on a hinge and folds open and closed. Batteries last one to five hours before needing to be recharged. Many have all the features of a desktop computer and ports to plug in full size keyboards, color monitors, printers, and telephone connections. These are useful for people who need to write letters, take notes, or make calculations on the move.
Palmtops are so tiny they can fit into the palm of your hand. The most up-to-date palmtops can run spreadsheets, databases and word processing software. Today's palmtops have touch screen capabilities
The biggest portables weigh about 15lb. That's about the weight of a young baby, so they are not that easy to carry. Older models needed electricity, so they could only be used where there was an electrical socket.
Notebook computers, also known as laptops, are roughly the size of a notebook and weigh anywhere between 3lb - 6lb, depending on the model. The screen is on a hinge and folds open and closed. Batteries last one to five hours before needing to be recharged. Many have all the features of a desktop computer and ports to plug in full size keyboards, color monitors, printers, and telephone connections. These are useful for people who need to write letters, take notes, or make calculations on the move.
Palmtops are so tiny they can fit into the palm of your hand. The most up-to-date palmtops can run spreadsheets, databases and word processing software. Today's palmtops have touch screen capabilities
Memory, Disks, and Drives
CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) or processor is a component that acts as the brains of the computer. It moves data around in the system in ways defined by the programmers. A CPU performs 3 main functions. It accepts input, processes data, and provides output.
Memory is the place in a computer where information can be stored. Memory is made up of chips. Every computer has two kinds of memory: Read only Memory (ROM) and Random-Access Memory (RAM)
ROM
Read-Only Memory holds a store of programs which tell the computer how to work. When the computer is first turned on and it is starting up, or booting up, instructions from ROM tell the CPU (central processing unit, the brains of the computer) how to get going. As the name suggests, programs in ROM can only be read. The instructions cannot be changed and they won't be wiped out when the computer is turned off.
RAM
Random-Access Memory stores data and instructions while the computer is turned on. It is called Random-Access Memory because the computer can pick out, or access, any piece of data from any point. RAM is only a temporary memory. When the computer is switched off all of the data in it is lost.
Memory Cells
Memory is divided into units called cells which can hold one byte of data. Each cell has an address so the CPU knows where a piece of data is stored. It helps to think of memory as a series of holes. Each hole is a cell and each label is its address.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) or processor is a component that acts as the brains of the computer. It moves data around in the system in ways defined by the programmers. A CPU performs 3 main functions. It accepts input, processes data, and provides output.
Memory is the place in a computer where information can be stored. Memory is made up of chips. Every computer has two kinds of memory: Read only Memory (ROM) and Random-Access Memory (RAM)
ROM
Read-Only Memory holds a store of programs which tell the computer how to work. When the computer is first turned on and it is starting up, or booting up, instructions from ROM tell the CPU (central processing unit, the brains of the computer) how to get going. As the name suggests, programs in ROM can only be read. The instructions cannot be changed and they won't be wiped out when the computer is turned off.
RAM
Random-Access Memory stores data and instructions while the computer is turned on. It is called Random-Access Memory because the computer can pick out, or access, any piece of data from any point. RAM is only a temporary memory. When the computer is switched off all of the data in it is lost.
Memory Cells
Memory is divided into units called cells which can hold one byte of data. Each cell has an address so the CPU knows where a piece of data is stored. It helps to think of memory as a series of holes. Each hole is a cell and each label is its address.
Disks
Disks: To keep the information in RAM when your computer is turned off, you need to save it on a disk.
An Optical Disk is a compact disk or CD. The formatting of the optical disk will dictate whether it is a DVD, CD, read-only, or rewritable. Optical disks have replaced vinyl records, cassette tapes, videotapes, and floppy disks.
A device called a disk drive spins the disk, while read/write heads read or write data onto it.
Flash Memory is an electronic storage method used for video cameras, digital cameras, video game consoles, and as a movable hard drive.
A Flash Drive is a storage device that uses flash memory and USB (Universal Serial Bus). Flash Drives are small, removable, and rewritable. Storage Capacities can be as large as 8GB and are improving all the time. Because flash drives are electronic and have no moving parts, they have a longer life expectation than the optical disk.
Capacity
The amount of data that can be stored in memory or on a disk is called its capacity. It is measured in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB).
An Optical Disk is a compact disk or CD. The formatting of the optical disk will dictate whether it is a DVD, CD, read-only, or rewritable. Optical disks have replaced vinyl records, cassette tapes, videotapes, and floppy disks.
A device called a disk drive spins the disk, while read/write heads read or write data onto it.
Flash Memory is an electronic storage method used for video cameras, digital cameras, video game consoles, and as a movable hard drive.
A Flash Drive is a storage device that uses flash memory and USB (Universal Serial Bus). Flash Drives are small, removable, and rewritable. Storage Capacities can be as large as 8GB and are improving all the time. Because flash drives are electronic and have no moving parts, they have a longer life expectation than the optical disk.
Capacity
The amount of data that can be stored in memory or on a disk is called its capacity. It is measured in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB).
Create Flashcards To Help You Study
Using the information above from PORTABLES, MEMORY, DRIVES, & DISKS create flash cards to help you learn this new material.
Microsoft Word has a TABLES feature that allows you to create flashcards. Open Word then go to INSERT. Once there, click on TABLE, INSERT TABLE. The number of columns should be 3. The number of rows depends on how many words you are defining. In this case it should be 15.
The size of the columns should be adjusted so the center column is very small, this is where you would fold. Remember to make the font a large enough size to be able to read it easily.
Microsoft Word has a TABLES feature that allows you to create flashcards. Open Word then go to INSERT. Once there, click on TABLE, INSERT TABLE. The number of columns should be 3. The number of rows depends on how many words you are defining. In this case it should be 15.
The size of the columns should be adjusted so the center column is very small, this is where you would fold. Remember to make the font a large enough size to be able to read it easily.
Operating Systems
Operating System
An operating system is a program designed to run other programs on a computer. A computer's operating system is its most important program. It is considered the backbone of a computer, managing both software and hardware resources. Operating systems are responsible for everything from the control and allocation of memory to recognizing input from external devices and transmitting output to computer displays.
Find reviews of operating systems online. You may do a Google Search for "Operating System Reviews" Compare and Contrast at least 3 different operating systems you recognize. For example, Microsoft Windows 7, Apple Mac OS, Windows XP are examples of operating systems. Please keep your comparisons in an organized manner using a Word doc. Once you determine which operating system is best for you, write a paragraph declaring which you picked and why.
An operating system is a program designed to run other programs on a computer. A computer's operating system is its most important program. It is considered the backbone of a computer, managing both software and hardware resources. Operating systems are responsible for everything from the control and allocation of memory to recognizing input from external devices and transmitting output to computer displays.
Find reviews of operating systems online. You may do a Google Search for "Operating System Reviews" Compare and Contrast at least 3 different operating systems you recognize. For example, Microsoft Windows 7, Apple Mac OS, Windows XP are examples of operating systems. Please keep your comparisons in an organized manner using a Word doc. Once you determine which operating system is best for you, write a paragraph declaring which you picked and why.
Which Computer Brand Will You Choose?
Final Assignment
Use the information you have learned about Personal Computers to decide which computer brand is best for you. Visit the following sites and pick the computer that best suits your family's needs. You will create a PowerPoint presentation that highlights the best features from each company. All companies should be introduced in the first few slides. Then each company should have a few slides dedicated to the computer you would choose. Finish up by presenting the company and computer you have picked for your family. Remember, be creative and speak to all members of your family. This computer should be for all of them.
dell.com
gateway.com
apple.com
dell.com
gateway.com
apple.com