Essential Computing Concept

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 1

Getting Started

Essential ComputingConcepts


Objectives Describe components of a computer system Describe the contribution of IBM, Microsoft, and Intel

in the evolution of the PC Distinguish between system and application software Define a local area network; distinguish between a

server and a workstation Define the Internet and the World Wide Web Draw parallels between e-commerce and traditional

commerce Describe e-mail


What Is a Computer?

Microprocessor Internal Memory Auxiliary Storage Input Units Output Units


Any Computer System

Memory

Central processing unit(CPU)

Input

DiskAuxiliary Storage

Disk

Output


Inside the Computer

CD-ROM CPU Expansion slots Floppy drive Hard disk Memory chip Motherboard Power supply


Back of the Computer

Cooling Fan Power Supply Keyboard Connector

Mouse Connector Parallel Printer Port Video Connector


Microprocessor

Brain of the computer Current chips for PC

Intel (Celeron, Pentium III, and soon-to-be announced Pentium IV)

AMD (K-6 and Athlon) Which do I buy?

Pentium or Athlon for graphic-intensive programs

K-6 or Celeron for business and Internet browsing


Internal Memory (RAM)

Temporary (erased when power turned off) Measured in bytes

1 Byte = 1 character (8 bits) 1 Kilobyte = 210 (~1,000 bytes) 1 Megabyte = 220 (~1,000,000 bytes) 1 Gigabyte = 230 (~1,000,000,000 bytes)

Need 128Mb of RAM Keep multiple programs & data files in memory Graphic-intensive programs demand a lot of memory


Auxiliary Storage (Permanent)

Floppy Disk Most common is 1.44Mb LS-120 disk is 120Mb

High Capacity Removable Storage Zip disks (100 or 250Mb) Jazz Disks (1 or 2Gb)

Hard (Fixed) Disk Most common are 10 –30Gb


Auxiliary Storage (Continued)

CD-ROM 650Mb capacity Recordable devices also available

DVD drives 4.7Gb-17Gb capacity ROM and RAM Higher capacity than CD

Tape Units Used for large, unattended back-ups


Input and Output Units

Keyboard Mouse Trackball Scanner Joystick Pens

Ink Jet Printers B/W or color Smears

Laser Printers Highest quality

output Speakers


Monitor Size and Resolution

Monitors come in different sizes: 17,” 19,” and 21”

Resolution is expressed in pixels (such as 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768)

The higher the resolution, the more you can see. Larger monitors let you run at higher resolutions: e.g., 19” to run 1024 x 768 comfortably

A graphics card (video display adapter) speeds processing


Purchasing Decisions

Local store versus mail order Magazines Internet

Use credit card to double warranty 30-day price guarantee Don’t forget the software

Windows included (check the version) Microsoft Office is optional


The PC Today

Main Components 1Gb microprocessor 256Mb RAM 30Gb hard drive 1 floppy drive Zip drive DVD or CD-ROM drive 21” monitor 64Mb graphics card

Other Components Cable modem CD-RW drive Camera Microphone TV adapter Sound card/speakers


Purchasing on the Web

www.dell.com www.gateway.com www.ibm.com www.pcwarehouse.com www.microwarehouse.com


Software

System Software Microsoft Windows - Operating System

Home – Windows 98, Windows Me Business – Windows NT, Windows 2000 Windows XP will replace all previous versions

Antivirus and file compression is not built into Windows and requires additional software

Application Software Microsoft Office consists of Word, Excel, Access,

PowerPoint, FrontPage, and Publisher Different editions contain different applications


Antivirus Software

A computer virus attaches itself to various files and alters the way your computer works

Transmitted via an infected file or floppy disk, or more commonly through the Internet

Antivirus software can protect your computer, but it must be updated continually to detect new viruses


File Compression

Files are made smaller (compressed) to reduce the storage requirements and/or time required to download a file

A file compression program (such as WinZip) is required to compress one or more files into a “zipped” file or archive.

The zipped file can be converted to a self-extracting file that is expanded without the file compression program


The Internet

A network of networks Began in 1969 as

government project No central authority

and thus impossible to state the precise size

Worldwide and near- instantaneous access to virtually unlimited information


The World Wide Web

A subset of the Internet consisting of all computers with hypertext or hypermedia documents

These documents contain references (links) to other documents which may be on a different computer anywhere in the world

Began in 1991 at the European Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN) in Switzerland


A Client/Server Model

A server (Web server or Web site) is any computer that stores hypermedia documents and furnishes them upon request

A client is any computer that requests, then displays hypermedia documents

Every client must be able to display every document from every server and does so through a browser (e.g., Netscape or Internet Explorer)


Acronyms Abound

HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol is used to transmit Web documents

HTTPS – Secure protocol for confidential transactions

HTML – HyperText Markup Language is the language for all Web documents

ISP – Internet service provider


Connecting to the Internet

At Work or School Via a Local Area Network

At Home Traditional Modem (56Kbps/V90) Cable Modem

Uses TV cable Requires network card

DSL Modem Voice and data on the same line Requires network card


http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/bio.html

Means of access

Internet Address (Web site)

Document

Path (Directory or Folder)

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)


URL Format

You can guess at the URL using the general form of: “www.company.com”

Other domains include “edu,” “gov,” and “org,” but “com” is most common

Examples: www.microsoft.com www.nba.com www.whitehouse.gov www.miami.edu


Security and Privacy

Secure transactions Https protocol Encryption

Privacy Cookie is a small file written to your

disk each time you visit a site Problem is when one site can read

many cookies (e.g., DoubleClick.com)


E-commerce

The exchange of goods and services Buyer and seller Products and suppliers A place to “meet” Marketing to attract the buyer Accept and process the order

All of these elements are present in e-commerce and traditional commerce


Advantages of E-commerce

For the Seller Open 24/7 Shoppers from

anywhere Virtual inventory is

cheaper and extensive

Lower transaction costs

Target your customers

For the Buyer Open 24/7 Never leave home Easy to view and

explore product line

Comparison shop Web site knows

you


E-Mail (Electronic Mail)

E-mail is simply a means of sending messages via computer

Business is using more e-mail and fax To access, you must have a mail server

and/or software Each person has a username and pass-

word All mail programs allow you to Send,

Compose, Reply, and Forward


Obtaining an E-mail Account

You will need an e-mail server (post office) to send and receive e-mail

You can obtain an account at school You can pay for an account through an ISP

such as AOL You can get free email accounts:

www.hotmail.com www.yahoo.com


Privacy and Terms of Agreement

E-mail is less private than U.S. mail If you need privacy, send a letter

Every mail server has terms that you must agree to No copyright infringements No harassing or stalking No junk mail or spamming No intentional sending of viruses


An E-mail Address

Every e-mail address is unique and consists of two parts, a user name and a host computer: [email protected]

The@ sign is required The host computer can be omitted if

you are logged onto the same network or host computer


The Mail Folders

Inbox – new messages as well as messages that have been read

Outbox – messages not yet sent Sent items – messages that have been

sent (moved here from outbox) Deleted items – messages deleted from

any folder Custom folders – additional folders

created by the user


Parts of the E-mail Message

HeaderTo:Cc:Bcc:Subject:Message

Signature

Attachments


Additional E-mail Capabilities

Address Book Contains the e-mail addresses of frequent

contacts Enables you to enter an alias (e.g., “Bob”

instead of the complete address) Distribution List

A set of e-mail addresses stored under one name

Ideal for your professor to e-mail the class


E-mail Protocols

POP Client – Post Office Protocol Lets you work without being connected to

mail server Upload to send mail - Download to read mail Allows almost any e-mail program to access

e-mail from server IMAP – Internet Message Access Protocol

Permits a "client" email program to access remote message stores as if they were local

Enables user to access messages from more than one computer

Essential Computing Concept

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