Chapter 1

Computer Basics

Learning objectives

◽ Understand the purpose and elements of information systems

◽ Recognize the different types of computers

◽ Distinguish the main software types

◽ Identify the components of a computer system

◽ Understand how computers communicate

Identifying Computer Types

As you learned in the preceding section, hardware is the physical part of hardware The physical parts of the computer
the computer system. Hardware consists of components inside a com- system.
puter as well as the external devices that interact with it, such as printers,
cables, and monitors.

Chapter 1: Computer Basics 13

 Personal Computers
personal computer A computer designed to be When most people think about computers, they picture a personal
used by only one person at a time. computer, or PC. This type of computer is called personal because it is
designed for only one person to use at a time. Personal computers fall
into several categories that are differentiated from one another by their
sizes. The most common sizes are:

desktop PC A computer designed to be set up ◾ Desktop PC: A com-

at a desk and not often moved, with input and puter designed to be
output devices separate from the system unit.
used at a desk, and
seldom moved. This type
of computer consists of a
large metal box called a
system unit The main part of the computer, system unit that con-
containing the essential components. tains most of the essen-
tial components, with a
separate monitor, key-
board, and mouse that all
plug into the system unit
(see Figure 1.2). © iStockphoto.com/Viktorus
notebook PC A portable PC where the screen ◾ Notebook PC: A por- Figure 1.2 A desktop PC contains a separate
and keyboard fold up against one another for stor- system unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
table computer designed
age and transport; also known as a laptop.
to fold up like a note-
book for carrying, as
shown in Figure 1.3.
The cover opens up to
reveal a built-in screen,
pointing device An input device such as a keyboard, and pointing
mouse or touchpad that enables users to move device, which substitutes
an onscreen pointer to select content and issue
commands. for a mouse. This type of
computer is sometimes
called a laptop. A smaller
version of a notebook
PC is sometimes referred
© iStockphoto.com/daboost
netbook A small notebook PC designed primarily to as a netbook (which
for accessing the Internet. Figure 1.3 A notebook PC has a built-in monitor,
is short for Internet book, keyboard, and pointing device, such as a touchpad.
implying that this type of
computer is primarily for accessing the Internet rather than running
applications).
tablet PC A lightweight slate-style computer with ◾ Tablet PC: A portable
a touch screen, designed for easy portability. computer that consists of
a touch-sensitive display
screen mounted on a
tablet-size plastic frame
with a small computer
inside, as in Figure 1.4.
There is no built-in
keyboard or pointing
device; a software-
based keyboard pops up
onscreen when needed,
© iStockphoto.com/UmbertoPantalone
and your finger sliding
on the screen serves as a Figure 1.4 A tablet computer is a touch-
sensitive slate.
pointing device.

14 Part I: Computer Basics and Hardware

 ◾ Smartphone: A mobile smartphone A cellular phone that includes com-
puter applications and Internet access capability.
phone that can run com­
puter applications and
has Internet access capa-
bility (see Figure 1.5).
Smartphones usually
have a touch-sensitive
screen, and provide voice
calls, text messaging, and
Internet access. Many
have a variety of location-
aware applications, such
as a global positioning global positioning system (GPS) A device
© iStockphoto.com/scanrail that determines your current position by communi-
system (GPS) and map-
Figure 1.5 A smartphone combines the cating with an orbiting satellite and provides maps
ping program and a local capabilities of a cell phone with a small touch- and driving directions.
business guide. sensitive tablet screen.

Multi-User Computers
Multi-user computers are designed to serve groups of people, from a
small office to a huge international enterprise. Here are some common
types of multi-user computers:

◾ Server: A computer dedicated to serving and supporting a network, server A computer that is dedicated to perform-
a group of network users, and/or their information needs. Many ing network tasks such as managing files, printers,
or email for multiple users.
networks employ servers to provide a centrally accessible storage
space for data, and share common devices like printers and scanners. server farm A group of servers located in the
same physical area.
A small network server may look similar to a desktop PC, but may
mainframe A large and powerful computer
have a different operating system, such as Windows Server or capable of serving many users and processing
Linux. A large server that manages a wide-ranging network may large amounts of data at once.
look similar to a mainframe. A group of
servers located together in a single room
or facility is called a server farm, or server
cluster. Large Internet service provider (ISP)
companies maintain extensive server farms.
◾ Mainframe: A large and powerful com-
puter capable of processing and storing large
amounts of business data. For example, a
mainframe might collect all the sales data
from hundreds of cash registers in a large
department store and make it available to
executives. The modern mainframe unit itself
is a large cabinet, or a series of cabinets,
each about the size of a refrigerator (see
Figure 1.6). A mainframe may be stored in
its own air-conditioned room in a business
or school, and may have multiple employ-
ees monitoring and maintaining it. In earlier
decades, smaller and less expensive multi-
user computers called minicomputers were
employed in many businesses, but mini-
computers are no longer widely used.
Figure 1.6 A mainframe is a powerful business computer system
that can receive and process data from many sources at once.

Chapter 1: Computer Basics 15

 supercomputer The largest and most powerful ◾ Supercomputer: A supercomputer is the largest and most powerful
type of computer, surpassing the capability of type of computer available, occupying large rooms and even entire
a mainframe, typically used in research and
academics. floors of a building. Supercomputers are often employed in fields
such as cryptanalysis (code breaking), molecular modeling, weather
forecasting, and climate mapping. Supercomputers typically are
used in high-tech academic, governmental, and scientific research
facilities. Figure 1.7 shows a supercomputer.

Figure 1.7 This IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer is located at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois, USA.

Mapping the Human Genome

Supercomputers played a critical role in the Human Genome Project
(HGP), a multi-national research project that sought to define the
Put It to Work

unique genetic sequences that comprise the 23 chromosome pairs

of human DNA. The project began in the 1980s, and by April 2003,
99% of the human genome had been mapped with 99.99% accu-
racy. Work continues on genomes today, with thousands of human
genomes completely sequenced and many more mapped at a more
basic level. The power of a supercomputer was essential for process-
ing the enormous amount of data. The data that this project collected
may help researchers develop cures for diseases like cancer, as well
as promote advances in biotechnology and molecular medicine.

© iStockphoto.com/cosmin4000

16 Part I: Computer Basics and Hardware