1. Introduction to Computers

2. Expansion ports
Expansion ports provide connectivity for peripheral devices and include:
Mouse and keyboard ports (may look identical) USB ports often used instead of dedicated ports
Network port – like a phone connector but larger
Speaker and microphone
General purpose USB ports
Monitor port, older style VGA port shown here

3. Usb ports USB ports are the most frequently used by far
Desktops often have 6 ports (2 front, 4 back)
Most full-size notebooks have 4 USB ports
Smaller notebooks may only have 2 USB ports
Devices using USB connectivity include mouse, scanner, printer, and joystick
Windows detects USB devices when plugged in
Determines type of device and configures it for use
This capability referred to as Plug and Play (PnP)

4. Monitors Most monitors are LCD flat panel displays
Screen size is measured diagonally
Resolution indicates highest number of pixels (distinct points of color) that can be displayed
Usually quoted as “width x height” in pixels, for example, 1024 pixels across & 768 pixels high
A larger resolution yields a smaller image
You may configure for a resolution less than the maximum to make text and images larger

5. Higher resolution = smaller image
Several resolutions may be used
Screen dimensions are fixed
So as resolution goes up, more pixels must fit in same space
Thus pixels must be smaller
If pixels are smaller, image size will be smaller as well
So to increase text or image size, select a lower resolution
800 x 600 resolution
1024 x 768 resolution

6. Monitor ports
A number of different types of monitor ports have been used over the years
VGA used extensively in years past
Some desktops still provide a VGA port
DVI provided higher resolution than VGA
Apple used mini & micro DVI versions
Does not carry audio while HDMI does
HDMI is the most recent standard
Also has both mini & micro versions

7. Printers Print quality expressed in dots per inch (dpi)
More dots mean better print quality
Common types of printers
Ink jet – nearly always print in color
Laser – print in black & white or color
Thermal transfer – black & white only
Dot matrix – black & white only
Printers usually connect through a USB port
Older printers may use a Parallel port to connect
Many printers will also connect wirelessly

8. Print speed Ink jet and laser printer speeds
Expressed in pages per minute (ppm) for B&W text
Color prints slower than B&W
Graphics prints slower than text
12 pages per minute is a typical print speed
Thermal printer speeds listed in linear millimeters per second
Dot matrix printer speeds listed in characters per second

9. Inkjet printers Nozzles spray ink on to paper
Most popular home printing option
High quality results for both text and graphics
Very inexpensive to purchase
But costly to operate
Typically require 4 or 5 ink cartridges per printer
Cartridges are expensive and often used quickly
A poor solution for high volume printing needs

10. laser printers Works like a copier with a light sensitive drum
Most popular business printing option
Very high quality results for text and graphics
More costly to buy but cheaper to operate
Black & white requires a single toner cartridge
Color more costly requiring 4 toner cartridges
Cartridges expensive but last far longer than ink jet
Most color lasers also require drum be replaced
B&W a good choice for high volume printing

11. Thermal printers Uses special paper known thermal paper
The ink is coated on the surface of the paper
Ink changes from white to black when heated
Heavily used for receipts of all types
Gas stations, restaurants, stores
Very convenient, no toner or ink to replace
Just replace the roll of paper when it runs out

12. Dot matrix printers Once the dominant printing technology
Slow, noisy, and low quality
Supplanted by laser and ink jet printers
Dot matrix printers still used by companies to print multi-part carbon forms
These forms require an impact printer
Laser and ink jet printers do not strike the page
Very inexpensive to operate

13. Setting a Default printer
Several printers may be available to a computer
May be directly connected via parallel or USB port
Or mutiple printers may be available on a network
Can set one printer as the default printer
Go to Settings, Devices, Printers
Click printer name you wish to set as default, then the Manage button that appears for the printer
On Manage your device display, click Set as default
If you don’t see Set as default button
Return to the list of printers
Uncheck Let Windows manage my default printer button

14. Using a notebook as a desktop
Do you like the large screen & full keyboard of a desktop but also the portability of a notebook?
Get the best of both with a little extra money
Buy a notebook computer (if you don’t have one)
Buy a wireless keyboard and mouse for home
Buy a standalone monitor for home
Plug the notebook into the monitor and power
You get a full screen setup similar to a desktop
Also have a full keyboard and mouse
Just unplug and go to use again as a notebook

15. Desktop computer Expansion boards
A circuit board that provides additional functionality
Plugs into slot on motherboard
End of card exposed to back of system unit
System unit must have an open expansion slot in order to do this
Desktop system units provide expansion slots
“All in one” desktops & portable computers do not

16. Device drivers
Software that determines how a peripheral device communicates with a computer
Generally don’t need to install a device driver
Usually already included with the operating system
But if installing a new model of a peripheral device on an older computer, it may not have the driver
Or if installing a much less common device
CD with driver may be included with device
If not included, can usually download from Internet