UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMPUTER

TWO BASIC TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Personal Computers• Called PC’s.• This type of computer is made by several

different companies.• The computers we will use in class.

Macintosh• Often called Macs and Apples.• These computers look different on the

inside and outside but they can do basically the same things.

OPERATING SYSTEMS (OS)

• The operating system tells everything in your computer how to act.

• It can change the way things appear on your screen or desktop.

Windows is the most common

operating system for PCs.

HARDWARE Hardware is the name for the physical

parts of your computer.o CPUo Monitoro Keyboardo Mouseo Speakerso Printer

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

• This is what makes a computer work. It is like the brain of the computer.• Contains the disk drives and hard

drive.• This is where you will find the

power switch to turn the computer on and off.

• Also called CPU, Computer, and Processor.

MOUSE

• Cursor• Click• Double-Click• Click and Drag• Right-Click

KEYBOARD

• 10-Key pad• Arrow Keys• Caps Lock• Shift• Back Space/ Delete• Enter or Return

DISKS

• 3.5 Floppy Disko We will use these in

class.o Like a folder in your

pocket

• CD ROM Disko Just like a music CD.o Software is

purchased on CD.o Today, some CD’s

can be used to save information, but the computer has to have a CD burners.

Desktop

• The first screen you see when the computer starts up

• The desktop has several icons that can be used as short-cuts to a program or file.

DRIVES

• Drives are different places on your computer to save information.

• 3 ½ Floppy A: is the disk drive• C: is the hard drive

Folders and Documents• Folders help organize the things you

save on the computer.• Each thing you save is called a

document or a file.

SOFTWARE

• Software is information or instructions for your computer.

• Software needs to be installed on a computer, usually from a CD.

Some examples of software programs that we will use in class: • Word• Excel• PowerPoint• Publisher• Internet Explorer• Mavis Beacon

MICROSOFT WORD• Word Processor• Like a typewriter except you can edit,

copy, move and delete text. You can check your spelling and grammar, too.• Use for letters and

documents which are mainly words.

MICROSOFT EXCEL

• Spreadsheet• Use with documents

which are mainly numbers or graphs.

• Adds and multiplies numbers.

MICROSOFT POWERPOINT

• Presentation software.• Use for posters and

presentations.• This presentation was created on PowerPoint!

MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER

• This software allows you to use the internet.

• When you use the internet you can send and receive e-mail.

MAVIS BEACON

• Mavis Beacon is a learning software.

• Mavis Beacon teaches typing and 10-Key.

• You can use this software to learn to type.