Lesson 1 - Types of computers, how they process information and how individual computers interact with other computing systems and devices

In this section we will cover Computer Hardware.

You will learn about the different types of computers, how they process information and how individual computers interact with other computing systems and devices.

Having the skills to use a computer is a great advantage ad home and in the business world.

It can improve your Performance and productivity

Computers are now used at home and in schools as well as in the office.

• Some examples are:
• Checking you banking information
• Writing letters and communicating with people with email
• Looking for a zip code
• Taking an online class
• Comparing prices and buying online
• Using an encyclopedia or dictionary
• Touring the Whitehous

Types of Computers

In this lesson will cover the different types of computers and their size, power, and purpose.

There are three main types of computers, Mainframes, Minicomputer. and Microcomputers

Mainframe

A mainframe computer is a large, powerful computer that handles the processing for many users simultaneously (up to several hundred users). The name mainframe originated after minicomputers to distinguish the larger systems from the smaller minicomputers. A mainframe can fill a large room.

It can handle hundreds of different programs and users at the same time without decreasing their performance.

Mainframes are mostly used in large organizations and government agencies, such as banks, airlines, and universities.

Users can connect to the mainframe using terminals and desktop computers. A terminal is a device that has a screen and keyboard for input and output, but it does not do its own processing (they are also called dumb terminals since they can't process data on their own).

Mainframes typically cost several hundred thousand to a million dollars.

Mainframe computers are sometimes called centralized systems because they control the flow of data to and from other computers and terminals.

Supercomputer

Supercomputers are used for extremely calculation-intensive tasks such resource exploration, movie animation, aerodynamic flows, and global weather patterns.

A supercomputer can be very expensive typically costing several million dollars.

The most famous series of supercomputers were designed by the company founded and named after Seymour Cray. The Cray-1 was built in the 1976 and installed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Minicomputer

A minicomputer is a multi-user computer that lies in the middle range of computers and is less powerful than a mainframe and can fill part of a room. .

Minicomputers commonly are networked and share computational tasks by many users, but as the number of users increase, the speed decreases.

The niche previously filled by the minicomputer has been largely taken over by high-end microcomputer workstations serving multiple users

Minicomputers are use by medium-sized businesses, manufacturing companies and in legal and accounting firms. Point-of-sale terminals, cash registers in places like Wal-Mart.

Some applications are data acquisition, process control, time-sharing, and terminal and peripheral communication control.

More than one-third of small businesses surveyed worldwide use minicomputers,

Microcomputers - PC

The phrase, "microcomputer"has been largely replaces with "personal computer" or "PC," which has been designed to be used by one person at a time.

Personal computers are mostly used in businesses, schools, and homes.

The size of the personal computer has decreased and has become significantly less expensive.

Types of Microcomputers

Most IBM PC compatible computer run Windows. Windows is the standard operating system for which much of the software made for computers is created for.

The main advantage to buying a PC is having the most compatibility with all available hardware and software in the Personal Computer market.

Macs are generally easier to use and cause a lot less problems than your average PC computer and are used in mostly industries, such as graphics design or publishing and in education.

Desktop Computers

A desktop computer is a commonly called a (PC) (personal computer).

It is intended for use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer.

The term 'desktop' refers specifically to a horizontally-oriented case, usually intended to have the display screen placed on top to save space on the desk top.

Most modern desktop computers have separate screens and keyboards.

Desktop computers come in a variety of styles ranging from large vertical tower cases to small desktop models.

Laptop

Laptop or Notebook computers are portable microcomputers small and lightweight enough to be carried around with the user. They run on battery power, but can also be plugged into a wall outlet.

They typically have a built-in LCD display that folds down to protect the display when the computer is carried around. They also feature a built-in keyboard and some kind of built-in pointing device (such as a touch pad).

The cost for a notebook or laptop computer is about the same or slightly more than the cost for a desktop computer, but you can take a notebook or laptop with you

Laptops now are main computer used by students, other users can be real estate agents, and business professional who travel.

You can buy a notebook made for the PC or Mac. They work about the same as desktop computers.

It is now expected that more laptops than desktops will be sold as soon as 2009

Tablet Computers

Tablet PCs tend to weigh between three and five pounds and have 12.1-inch screens.

Some Tablet PCs come with an integrated keyboard and display that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded down over the keyboard

The operating system on which most tablet PCs run is Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

There are quite a lot of operating systems in use on devices marketed as tablets.

Advantages

More natural form of input - sketching and handwriting are a much more familiar form of input than a keyboard and mouse, especially for people who are new to computers.

Portability - slate tablets and hybrids without keyboards are very slim and light compared to typical laptops and can easily be tucked under the arm like a book.

PDA & Pocket PC

Most have a touch-sensitive LCD screen for both output and input (the user draws characters and presses icons on the screen with a stylus).

PDAs communicate with desktop computers and with each other either by cable connection, infrared (IR) beam, or radio waves. PDAs are normally used to keep track of appointment calendars, to-do lists, address books, and for taking notes.

A palmtop, handheld PC, or Pocket PC is a very small microcomputer that also sacrifices power for small size and portability. These devices typically look more like a tiny laptop than a PDA, with a flip-up screen and small keyboard. They may use Windows CE or similar operating system for handheld devices.

Some PDAs and palmtops contain wireless networking or cell phone devices so that users can check e-mail or surf the web on the move.

Smart Phones

Smart phones can have computer technology that lets you access the Internet. With most cell phones now you can, listen to music and take pictures or video, send text messages and e-mail

Other Computing Devices

Electronic devices such as calculators and cell phones contain a -microprocessor (known as a computer chip).

Other consumer products that contain computer chips include watches and clocks, as well as interactive educational toys, which often use a pen-shaped stylus to point and tap on a pressure-sensitive surface.

In addition, mechanical devices (such as automobile engines and industrial equipment) often use microprocessors, which allow them to work more effectively and efficiently.

To do calculations, many calculators use the same kind of chips found in computers. In fact, the computer is really a very large and advanced calculator that does tasks based on the binary computations of 1's and 0's.