Basic Computer Terms In Simple Language
May 07 '00
You want to buy a computer, or you own one, but can't understand the darned thing. This review will explain your computer hardware in the simplest terms possible so you'll be able to better understand them, become a more skilled user, or make better purchase decisions.
Processor: (also called CPU)
A processor is your computer's brain. It's speed is measured in megahertz, abbreviated as mhz. The higher the mhz, the faster the processor.
What processors are available? There are two main companies that make computer processors for us consumers: Intel and AMD.
AMD's processor line:
K6-2 - for budget computers
K7(also called Athlon, pronounced ath-lon, not ath-uh-lon)- for budget computers as well, but the better ones are top-of-the-line
Intel's processor line:
Celeron - for budget computers
Pentium III - for budget computer as well, but the better ones are top-of-the-line
What is a fast processor? All processors in new computers are fast. Top-of-the-line new processors are 800mhz and faster.
RAM (Random Access Memory):
This is your computer's short term memory. RAM is measured in megabytes, abbreviated as MB. The more RAM you have, the faster your computer goes.
How much RAM should a computer have? For most computers, 64MB is good.
Video:
Video is what is displayed on your monitor screen. Your computer has a special processor(brain) for video. The better your video, the faster and better the information on your screen will be displayed.
What is good video? All new computers come with great video for new users.
Sound:
Your computer has a special processor(brain) for sound. This creates all the music, sound effects, and beeps that come from your computer. Speakers must be connected to your computer in order to hear this sound.
what is a good sound processor? All new computers come with great sound processors for new users.
Modem:
The modem is what enables your computer to connect to the internet. Pick up your phone sometime while you are connected to the internet, and you will hear the language that computers talk to each other in. It sounds like horrible noise, but they manage to understand each other.
Modem speed is measured in bits per second, abbreviated as bps. You may have heard of 56k modems. 56k is a short way of saying 56 THOUSAND bps. This modem can send the equivalent of 10 pages of text to another computer every second.
All modems on new computers are fast enough to use the internet.
Hard Drive:
The Hard Drive is a device inside your computer that holds tons and tons of information. Some of the biggest hard drives can hold as much information as 1,000 sets of encyclopedias. Hard Drive size is measured in gigabytes, abbreviated as GB.
What is a good size for a Hard Drive? All new computers have Hard Drives big enough for new users.
CD-ROM Drive(Compact Disc - Read Only Memory):
A CD-ROM drive is a CD player for your computer, only it's better because it doesnt just play music CDs. It also plays game CDs and CDs with computer programs on them as well. Most computers have CD-ROM drives.
What is a good CD-ROM drive? any new CD-ROM drive will be fast enough for new users.
CD-RW Drive(Compact Disc - ReWritable):
a CD-RW drive does the same thing as a CD-ROM drive, but it also lets you record CDs. You can record music CDs, game CDs, and CDs with computer programs on them with a CD-RW drive. Some computers have CD-RW drives.
What is a good CD-RW drive? These drives are rated by how fast they are compared to regular cd-players. A good CD-RW drive records a cd 4X faster than a regular cd player reads it.
DVD Drive(Digital Versatile Disc):
A DVD drive is the same thing as a CD-ROM drive, but it can also play discs, called DVDs, that hold alot more information than CDs. Some more expensive computers have DVD drives.
What is a good DVD drive? It should be labeled "third generation", this means it is up to date with the newest types of DVDs
Floppy Disk Drive:
This is a small drive that lets you use floppy disks. Floppy disks are plastic squares 3 1/2" wide and 3 1/2" tall with a metal circle on the back, and a metal rectangle on one end. They hold a small amount of information, about the equivalent of a good sized book. They are useful for saving small amounts of important information. All new computers have a floppy disk drive.
Monitor:
This is the thing that looks like a television that displays all the information coming from the computer.
Keyboard:
The thing you type with.
Mouse:
The thing that looks like a lump of plastic with a tail. The mouse controls a cursor on the monitor that can be used to tell your computer what to do.
Printer:
A device that allows you to print text and images from your computer onto paper
Scanner:
A device that can look at text and images then import them into your computer. If a computer had eyes, they would be the scanner.
That pretty much covers it. I hope this review was both thorough and simple enough for even the newest of users to understand. If you know someone who is interested in computers but knows nothing about them, feel free to give them a copy or some revised form of this review. thanks for reading.
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Member: Curtis Burdette
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