ICS3U

Unit 1- Activity 5- AOL- Purchasing a New Computer

Purchasing a New Computer

C1. relate the specifications of computer components to user requirements;

C1.2. relate computer specifications with user requirements;

In this assignment, you will meet two students who are planning to purchase new computer systems.
It is your job to act as their technical advisor and help them to decide what software and hardware they
should obtain that will satisfy their computing needs.

Student 1 – Adam (1 Year University Student)

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Hi, I’m Adam and I am a first year Networking Engineering Technology student.
The main things I use my computer for are gaming, running server applications like
web and file servers and doing a lot of virtualization, which is running several
operating systems inside of the main operating system.
I have a really big monitor so I can keep track of a lot of things at once.  It is 24
inches and it allows me to have several applications open at the same time.  For
instance, I often have both a web browser and a word processor open when I am
doing research so I can research and type at the same time; this is very handy.
Another one of the most important parts of a computer for me is the RAM.  Most
people don’t really need a lot of RAM.  However, it you start doing a lot of
multitasking like I do with several things running at once, you will find that if you
don’t have enough RAM it can really bog down your computer.  This is because your
operating system will try to use your hard drive and your hard drive is a lot slower
than the RAM. 
The video card is another important component.  I have a very nice one which is
great for playing all the new high-end games.
The next very important thing is the processor.  Without a fast processor, all your
other components will run slowly.  I have a quad core processor and it is very fast
and lets me do all of the multitasking that I want to.
 
Student 2 - Brittany (Grade 12 High School Student)
Hi, I’m Brittany.  I am a grade twelve student and I was asked what I use my
computer for.  I have a computer but I am not a ‘huge’ computer user. 
I use it personally for things like MSN and Facebook - basically chatting with
friends.  I also like to watch online movies and TV shows and I download a LOT of
music.
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Unit 1- Activity 5- AOL- Purchasing a New Computer

For school, I use my computer to research information for projects, make

presentations and do word processing.
That’s pretty much it; as I said I’m not a ‘huge’ computer user.

Let's go Shopping!
For each of the above listed students determine the best computer for them.  Visit
online stores that sell computer hardware. Compare the different computers that
are available while looking carefully at specifications and prices.
As you are shopping, keep in mind the person for whom you are trying to find a
computer and their particular computing needs. When you find a computer that
satisfies the requirements of one of the students, prepare a report for that student
so that s/he can make his/her purchase. Repeat this process for the second
student.
Types of Software to Consider:
1. Application Software 
This type of software is often thought of as "work" software, or productivity
software.  Whether you are a student or have a job, there will be times when
you have to do work to produce some type of report or project.  Examples of
productivity software would include word processing, creating presentations,
and photo/video editing.
Other applications include communication and entertainment (in some
software these are combined).  Communication using the computer involves
some combination of text, audio, and video shared between computers. 
Entertainment is generally considered to be computer games.

2. System or Utility Software

 This type of software is not used frequently by the user, although it may be
active when the computer is running.  Most people are familiar with anti-
virus software, which generally runs continuously in the background, even
though the user rarely interacts with it.  There are other utilities available to
protect your computer and keep it running without errors.
 
3.  Programming Software
 There is also a special type of software specifically designed to let
programmers create new software.  These software packages are most often
Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), which means they have all of
the necessary components for programming (i.e., the programmer can only
has to work with the single program).  In the early days of programming,
ICS3U
Unit 1- Activity 5- AOL- Purchasing a New Computer

programmers were required to use several pieces of software (and

sometimes hardware) to create, load, and run their programs.
 
For each of your "clients", Adam and Brittany, you will try to determine their needs and choose
appropriate software for them.  Remember to pick software they will run on their computer (hardware and
operating system).

What to include in your Report

 The name of the business where the computer can be purchased along with
the web address where you found your information. 
 A picture of the computer system.
 The manufacturer, the make, and model.
 The cost of the computer system including taxes and shipping.
 .
 the name of the software
 the type of software (application, system, or programming)
 the primary use(s) of the software
 the cost of the software, including a total cost for all software you have
selected
 a reputable and legal location to buy or download the software
 A list of specifications (features) given about the computer and, in your own
words, explain the specification and why it would be useful. Refer to the list
below
 At least two paragraphs explaining why you selected this computer system.

Specifications to consider: 
 CPU ( manufacturer, type, speed)
 computer memory (RAM)
 storage (hard drives, CD/DVD drives)
 cards (network, sound and video)
 software (operating system, application packages included)
 printer (type, speed, print quality)
 monitor (type, size)
 scanner
 etc.
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Unit 1- Activity 5- AOL- Purchasing a New Computer

Name:
_______________________________________________________
Categories Level 1 (50 - Level 2 (60 - Level 3 (70 - Level 4 (80 -
59%) 69%) 79%) 100%)
Knowledge/Understanding: demonstrate knowledge of computer Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates a
specifications including both internal components of a computer limited some knowledge considerable high degree of
and peripheral devices. knowledge of of computer knowledge of knowledge of
computer specifications. computer computer
specifications. specifications. specifications.
Thinking: relate computer specifications to user requirements. Uses processing Uses processing Uses processing Uses processing
skills with limited skills with some skills with skills with a high
effectiveness. effectiveness. considerable degree of
effectiveness. effectiveness.
Communication: express and organize ideas and information in Communicates Communicates Communicates Communicates
report writing. why a specific why a specific why a specific why a specific
software and software and software and software and
hardware must hardware must hardware must hardware must be
be selected for a be selected for a be selected for a selected for a
customer with customer with customer with customer with a
limited some considerable high degree of
effectiveness. effectiveness. effectiveness. effectiveness.
Application: apply knowledge and skills of computer hardware in Applies Applies Applies Applies
report writing. knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and
skills of skills of skills of skills of computer
computer computer computer hardware and
hardware and hardware and hardware and software in report
software in software in software in writing with a high
report writing report writing report writing degree of
with limited with some with effectiveness.
effectiveness. effectiveness. considerable
effectiveness.