How to use a computer and not lose your mind Let’s Begin Operate a Personal Computer How to use a computer and not lose your mind 4/23/2017

Topic 1 -Hardware, Peripherals and Software 4/23/2017 Topic 1 -Hardware, Peripherals and Software The elements of your computer can be categorised in three ways: Hardware Peripherals & Software XP & Vista 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 Hardware – System Unit Located either on the desk or on the floor is your system unit. This is where all the intelligence of your computer is housed and where all the hard work takes place Or Laptop or Notebook 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 Hardware – System Unit All devices connect into the system unit so data can be entered, stored or retrieved 4/23/2017

External Hardware - Monitor 4/23/2017 The monitor allows you to see what your computer is doing. CRT Monitors LCD Monitors 4/23/2017

External Hardware – Keyboards The keyboard is one of the main input devices into your computer. Standard keyboard layouts are often referred to as QWERTY Keyboards –the first six keys on the first alphabetic row 4/23/2017

External Hardware – Keyboards Common keyboard connections are PS/2 USB Wireless 4/23/2017

External Hardware – Mouse The mouse is another major input device. You can use your mouse to drive your computer instead of using the keyboard. You select items with your mouse by clicking on the item. 4/23/2017

External Hardware – Mouse Common Mouse connections are Wireless PS/2 USB Bluetooth 4/23/2017

External Hardware – Speakers Speakers are attached to the computer to allow sound to be played 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 Internal Hardware The system unit contains many parts. Each part has a specific place to go. Inside the system unit can get hot and needs to be cooled down. Dust inside the system unit can become a problem 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware Motherboard -The motherboard is the main circuit board of a microcomputer.  It is also known as the mainboard or system board. 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware CPU – Central Processing Unit –The CPU is the brain of your computer The CPU is the central electronic chip that determines the processing power of the computer. 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware One of the most important things about CPUs is speed. The speed of CPU is measured in Hz, i.e., number of operations can be done per second. The CPU speed is currently measured in gigahertz (GHz). A gigahertz is a billion hertz or a thousand megahertz 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware -Memory 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware -Memory File Storage Capacity by Bits and Bytes   bit 1 byte 8 Kilobyte 8,192 Megabyte 8,388,608 Gigabyte 8,589,934,592 Terabyte 8,796,093,022,208 Petabyte 9,007,199,254,740,990 Exabyte 9,223,372,036,854,780,000 Zettabyte 9,444,732,965,739,290,000,000 All computers need memory to run programs and applications and to remember the tasks they have to perform. Memory is measured in bytes. You can think of one text character as 1 byte. A page of text is approximately 4,000 bytes. 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware -Memory 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware -Memory RAM -random-access memory: the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on When you switch off your computer, the information held in RAM is lost unless it was saved. You can upgrade your RAM. Most modern computers have at least 512MB of RAM 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware –Hard Drive 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware –Hard Drive A Hard Drive or Hard Disk is the main storage component of your computer. It stores your programs, applications and your data. Like RAM the space on your Hard Drive is measured in Bytes. Most modern computers have at least 40 or 60 GB hard drives. The Hard Drive is often the ‘C:’ Drive of your computer. 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware –Floppy Drive 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware –Floppy Drive Floppy Disk Drive Floppy disks can also store data, which is then portable. A floppy disk only holds 1.44MB of information. A typical floppy disk today is the 3½” disk. The floppy disk is usually known as ‘A:’ Drive. Many of the computers sold today are sold without Floppy Disk Drives. 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware –CD Drive 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware –CD Drive CD-ROM discs are read using CD-ROM drives, which are now almost universal on personal computers. Virtually all modern CD-ROM drives can also play audio CDs as well as Video CDs and other data standards when used in conjunction with the right software. 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware –Video Card 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware –Video Card The video card on your system will determine the picture quality displayed on the monitor. Video can be integrated into the motherboard 4/23/2017

Internal Hardware –Sound Card 4/23/2017 Internal Hardware –Sound Card The sound card on your system will determine the quality of sound played through the speakers. Sound can be integrated into the motherboard 4/23/2017

Peripherals - Printers Printers come in many models, types and price ranges. At the high end are laser printers. Other types are ink-jet, multi-function or dot matrix 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 Peripherals - Modems A modem is a device that converts the data from the computer into sound for transmission over a telephone line. Modems can be internal or external. 4/23/2017

Peripherals -Scanners A scanner is a device that can transform a physical image, whether text or graphics, into a form that the computer can use 4/23/2017

Peripherals –Digital Camera Digital cameras store the image as a file which can be downloaded onto the computer by connecting a cable between the computer and the camera 4/23/2017

Peripherals – Web Cameras Web cams capture video and are primarily used for allowing you to send images over the internet 4/23/2017

Peripherals - Gaming Devices 4/23/2017

Other Storage devices –Pen Drives Also know as Flash Drives, Jump Drives, Pen Drives etc. These devices attach to the computer via USB and are now very affordable 4/23/2017

Other Storage devices –External Hard Drives 4/23/2017 Other Storage devices –External Hard Drives External Hard Drives are a light weight way of carry large amounts of data. A 40GB Hard Drive is worth around 28,400 Floppy Disks 4/23/2017

Other Storage devices –Zip and Tape Drives There are many other means of storing large amounts of data that you can take between computers. These include Zip Drives and Tape Drives 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 Software Software provides instructions to your computer, telling it what to do. Software can be divided into two main groups Operating System Software Application Software Software is usually copied from Disks onto the computer’s Hard Drive. Some software may be preloaded when you buy your computer Once loaded software is permanently installed until you choose to remove it. 4/23/2017

Operating System Software 4/23/2017 Operating System Software An operating system ("OS") is the program that, after being initially loaded into the computer manages all the other programs and hardware in a computer. All computers must have an operating system. 4/23/2017

Operating System Software 4/23/2017 Operating System Software Microsoft Windows and Linux are both examples of Operating Systems. Microsoft are about to release a new OS called Vista. 4/23/2017

Application Software Applications enable you to work on certain tasks, e.g. writing letters, doing your accounts, using email and playing games are just a few. 4/23/2017

Application Software The main application categories are: 4/23/2017 Application Software The main application categories are: Word Processors Spreadsheets Presentation Applications Databases Graphics Applications Internet Browser Applications Virus Checking Software The main application categories are: Word Processors –Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Lotus Ami Pro and WordPro-Open Microsoft Word Spreadsheets –Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro-Open Microsoft Excel Presentation Applications- Microsoft PowerPoint, Harvard Graphics and Freelance -Open Microsoft PowerPoint Databases –Microsoft Access and Lotus Approach –Open Microsoft Access Graphics Applications – Microsoft Paint, CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator –Open Microsoft Paint Internet Browser Applications -Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox Virus Checking Software –McAfee Virus Scan, Norton Anti Virus or PC-cilian 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 Office Suites These applications can be purchased in ‘Suites’ or bundles, and are used together to gain the best results for your business problems. Common application suites include Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite, Open Office and Microsoft Office 2007 is released this year. The current version is Microsoft Office 2003 4/23/2017

4/23/2017 End of Topic 1 4/23/2017