1. Identify the categories of application software Explain ways software is distributed Explain how to work with application software Identify the key features of widely used business programs Describe the function of several stand-alone utility programs Identify characteristics of various personal computer processors on the market today Differentiate among the various types of memory Hardware and Software Slides adapted from: Shelly, Cashman & Vermaat, “Discovering Computers: A Gateway To Information 2006”, Thomson Course Technology, Ch 3, 4 & 7, 2006

2. Processor What is the system clock? Next Each tick is a clock cycle Pace of system clock is clock speed Most clock speeds are in the gigahertz (GHz) range (1 GHz = one billion ticks of system clock per second) Processor speed can also be measured in millions of instructions per second (MIPS)  Controls timing of all computer operations  Generates regular electronic pulses, or ticks, that set operating pace of components of system unit

3. Processor Which processor should you select? Next  The faster the processor, the more expensive the computer Celeron Itanium or Xeon Pentium family 1.3 GHz and up 3.0 GHz and up 2.4 GHz to 3.0 GHz Up to 2.4 GHz 2.2 GHz and up Intel ProcessorDesired Clock Speed

4. Processor What are the guidelines for selecting a processor? Next

5. Memory How is memory measured? Next TermAbbreviationApproximate Size KilobyteKB or K1 thousand bytes MegabyteMB1 million bytes GigabyteGB1 billion bytes TerabyteTB1 trillion bytes  By number of bytes available for storage

6. Memory Next The more RAM a computer has, the faster it responds Also called main memory or primary storage Most RAM is volatile, it is lost when computer’s power is turned off Memory chips that can be read from and written to by processor What is random access memory (RAM)?

7. Memory How much RAM do you need? Next  Depends on type of applications you intend to run on your computer RAM Use 256 MB to 1 GB512 MB to 1 GB 2 GB and up Home and business users managing personal finance Using standard application software such as word processing Using educational or entertainment CD-ROMs Communicating with others on the Web Users requiring more advanced multimedia capabilities Running number-intensive accounting, financial, or spreadsheet programs Using voice recognition Working with videos, music, and digital imaging Creating Web sites Participating in video conferences Playing Internet games Power users creating professional Web sites Running sophisticated CAD, 3D design, or other graphics-intensive software

8. Storage What is storage? Next Holds data, instructions, and information for future use Storage medium is physical material used for storage  Also called secondary storage

9. Storage What is capacity? Next Kilobyte (KB)1 thousand Megabyte (MB)1 million Gigabyte (GB)1 billion Terabyte (TB)1 trillion Petabyte (PB)1 quadrillion Number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can hold Exabyte (EB)1 quintillion Zettabyte (ZB)1 sextillion Yottabyte (YB)1 septillion

10. Storage Medium (floppy disks, Zip disks, hard disks, CDs) Storage How does volatility compare? Next Nonvolatile  Storage medium is nonvolatile—contents retained when power is off Contents retained Contents available to user Memory (most RAM) (chips on motherboard) Screen Display ONOFF Volatile Display disappears Data and instructions available to user Display appears Data and instructions erased  Memory is volatile—holds data and instructions temporarily

11. Storage What is access time? Time it takes storage device to locate item on storage medium Floppy Disk Small files to be transported Secondary Storage Primary Storage Hard Disk Flash Memory Cards and USB Flash Drives CDs and DVDs Tape Items waiting to be interpreted and executed by the processor Operating system, application software, user data and information Digital pictures or files to be transported Software, backups, movies, music Backups Memory (most RAM) Stores … Next Time required to deliver item from memory to processor faster transfer rates slower transfer rates

12. Mobile Computers and Devices What is a mobile computer? Next  Notebook, weighing between 2.5 and 8 pounds, or mobile device such as a PDA

13. Putting It All Together What are suggested processor, clock speed, and RAM requirements based on the needs of various types of users? Next

14. Putting It All Together What are recommended storage devices for home users? Next Home  80 GB hard disk  Online storage  CD or DVD drive  Card reader/writer  USB flash drive and/or 3.5-inch floppy disk drive

15. Putting It All Together What are recommended storage devices for small office/home office (SOHO) users? Next  750 MB Zip drive  120 GB hard disk  Online storage  CD or DVD drive  External hard drive for backup  USB flash drive and/or 3.5-inch floppy disk drive Small Office/ Home Office (SOHO)

16. Putting It All Together What are recommended storage devices for mobile users? Next  80 GB hard disk  Online storage  CD or DVD drive  Card reader/writer  Portable hard disk for backup  USB flash drive, and/or 2 GB PC Card hard disk, and/or 3.5-inch floppy disk drive Mobile

17. Putting It All Together What are recommended storage devices for power users? Next  CD or DVD drive  300 GB hard disk  Online storage  Portable hard disk for backup  USB flash drive and/or 3.5-inch floppy disk drive Power

18. Putting It All Together What are recommended storage devices for large business users? p. 380 Fig. 7-38 Next  Desktop computer  160 GB hard disk  CD or DVD drive  Smart card reader  Tape drive  USB flash drive and/or 3.5-inch floppy disk drive  Server or Mainframe  Network storage server  40 TB hard disk system  CD-ROM or DVD-ROM server  Microfilm or microfiche Large Business

19. Application Software What is application software?  Programs designed to make users more productive Next

20. Application Software How is software distributed? Packaged software, mass-produced Custom software, performs functions specific to a business or industry Open source software, provided for use, modification, and redistribution Shareware, distributed free for trial period Freeware, copyrighted software provided at no cost Public-domain software, freeware with no copyright restrictions Next

21. Business Software What is business software? Next  Software that assists people in becoming more effective and efficient

22. Business Software What is word processing software? Next  Allows users to create and manipulate text and graphics  Clip art is a collection of graphics that you can insert in documents

23. = SUM (C12:Y12) Business Software = A1+B2 (*C12)= D1+E2 (*F12) What is spreadsheet software? Next Organizes data Performs calculations and recalculates when data changes

24. Business Software How is a spreadsheet organized? Next  Columns identified by letters  Rows identified by numbers  A cell is the intersection of a column and row

25. Business Software What is a function? Next  A predefined formula that performs common calculations =C4+C5+C6+C7+C8 =SUM(C4:C8)

26. Business Software What is charting? Next  Allows you to display spreadsheet data in graphical form

27. Business Software What is database software? Allows you to create and manage data Add, change, delete, sort, and retrieve data Next

28. Business Software What are the parts of a database? Next  A table contains records  A record is a row in a table that contains information about a given person, product, or event  A field is a column in a table that contains a specific piece of information within a record

29. Business Software How do you extract information from a database? Can be sent as a report to the printer Run queries to retrieve data Next

30. Business Software What is a software suite? A collection of individual programs sold as a single package Two major advantages: lower costease of use Next

31. MarketingSalesDistribution Customer Service IT Business Software What is enterprise computing software?  Large organizations require special computing solutions  Each functional unit has specialized software requirements Next Human Resources AccountingEngineering Manufacturing

32. Graphics and Multimedia Software What are some popular graphics and multimedia software products? Next

33. Instant messaging Newsgroups FTP Application Software for Communications What software facilitates communication? Video conferencing Chat rooms Web browsers E-mail Next

34. Popular Stand-Alone Utility Programs What are some widely used stand-alone utility programs? Next Antivirus Program Spyware Remover Internet Filters File Compression File Conversion CD/DVD Burning PC Maintenance

35. Application Software on the Web What is a Web application? Next  A software application that exists on a Web site, such as maps and directions  Some Web applications store your data and information at their site  Some are free