Computer Basics: Your First Step into the Digital World

Introduction Computers Basic

A Computer is an electronic device that manipulates data. It can receive input and perform a sequence of programmed instructions to produce a result. The original digital computers filled entire rooms, and personal computers (PCs) small, affordable devices that individuals could own and operate didn’t appear until the 1970s. The PC revolution of the 1970s and 1980s saw an increase in computers with relatively easy-to-use software that brought computers to many homes.

Computer’s Key Components

Hard Disk Drive

• All computers feature some form of long-term storage for your documents, photos, music, and videos.
• On most desktop PCs and any smaller notebook (portable) computers, this storage is in the form of an internal hard drive-drive.   

Hard Disk Drive Lettered Drives

1. All storage drives are assigned specific letters by windows, on most systems, the main hard drive is called there C: drive.

2. Most computers today come with very large hard drives capable of storing just about anything you can imagine.

3. 1 terabyte (TB) is probably the most common size.

Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, and Terabytes

• The most basic unit of digital storage is called a byte; a byte typically equals one character of text.

• One thousand byes equal one kilobyte (KB).

• One thousand kilobytes, or one million bytes, equal one megabyte (MB).

• One thousand megabytes, or one billion bytes, equal one gigabyte (GB).

• One thousand gigabytes, or one trillion bytes, equal one terabyte (TB).

Solid State Drive (SSD) vs Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

SSD

1. Faster performance.

2. No vibrations or noise.

3. More energy efficient.

HDD

1. Cheaper per GB.

2. Available in large versions.

Memory

• Hard disks and solid-state memory devices provide long-term storage for your data.

• Your computer also needs short-term storage to temporarily store documents as you’re working on them or photos you’re viewing.

• This short-term storage is provided by your PC’s random access memory, or RAM.

• Most PCs today offer anywhere from 4 to 32 gigabytes (GB) of RM.

Processor

• The other major factor that affects the speed of your PC is its Central Processing Unit (CPU) or processor.

• The more powerful your computer’s CPU, measured in terms of gigahertz (GHz), the faster your system runs.

• Today’s CPUs often contain more than one processing unit, A dual-core CPU Contains the equivalent of two processors in one unit and should be roughly twice as fast as  a comparable single-core CPU, a quad-core CPU should be four times as fast as a single-core CPU.

System Unit

• On a traditional desktop computer, the hard disk, memory, and CPU are contained within a separate system unit that also supports various connectors and ports for monitors and other devices.

• On an all-in-one desktop, the system unit is built in to the monitor display.

• On a notebook PC, the hard disk and other components are all part of the notebook itself.   

Display

• All computers today come with liquid crystal display (LCD) screens.

• The screen can be in an external monitor in desktop systems, combined with the system unit for all-in-one systems, or built in to a notebook PC.   

Touchpads for Touchscreens

• Some LCD monitors offer touchscreen operation.

• Some touchpads on newer notebook PCs let you emulate a touchscreen display. That is, you can perform similar touch gestures on one of these touchpads as you can on a touchscreen.

External Input on a Notebook PC

• Even though notebook PCs come with built-in keyboards and touchpads, you can still connect external keyboards and mice (pointing devices) if you like, via the PC’s USB ports.  

Pointing Device

• You use a pointing device of some sort to move the cursor from place to place on the computer screen.

• On a desktop PC, the pointing device of choice is called a mouse, it’s about the size of a bar of soap, and you make it work by rolling it across a hard surface, such as a desktop.   

Touchpad

• Most notebook PCs have a built-in pointing device called a touchpad.

• You move your fingers across the touchpad to move the cursor across the computer screen.

Virtual Buttons

• Some touchpads don’t have discrete buttons. Instead, the lower part of the touchpad is designated as the button area; you tap on the lower-left quadrant to left-click, and tap on the lower-right quadrant to right-click.

Connectors

• Every computer comes with a variety of connectors (called ports) to which you can connect external components (called Peripherals), such as keyboards, printers, and the like, A number of different connectors are available, and not all computers offer the same assortment.   

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

• Because HDMI transmit both video and audio, you can use this port to connect your computer to your living room TV.

• HDMI is also used to connect DVD players, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, and other devices to television sets.    

Conclusion: In conclusion, learning the basics of computers is the key to understanding modern technology. It helps individuals use computers effectively, gain new skills, and keep pace with the progress of the digital world. A strong foundation in computer basics makes it easier to advance into new programs and skills in the future.