- •What is a Computer?
- •The Personal Computer
- •The Minicomputer
- •The Mainframe Computer
- •The Supercomputer
- •The Modern Computer
- •The Analog Computer
- •How Computers Do Their Work
- •Yesterday eniac – The First Electronic Digital Computer
- •Computer Operations
- •The Five Data Processing Steps
- •Software
- •Summary
- •Getting Acquainted with Personal Computer. Hardware.
- •Yesterday. What Was the First Personal Computer?
- •Processing Hardware
- •The Motherboard
- •Peripheral Hardware
- •Input Devices
- •Output Devices
- •Storage Devices
- •Dos, the Disk Operating System
- •Dos Files
- •Dos Filenames
- •The dos Directory
- •Today. Commonly Used dos Commands
- •Beginning a Work Session
- •The Prompt
- •The Command Line
- •The Cursor
- •Using Application Programs
- •Ending a Work Session
- •Troubleshooting.
- •The Desktop Personal Computer
- •Personal Computer Configurations
- •Bits and Bytes
- •A Simple Configuration
- •A Full Configuration
- •Types of Personal Computers
- •Ibm pCs and pc-Compatibles
- •Using pCs and pc-Compatibles
- •Тhе ibm Personal System/2
- •Using ps/2s
- •The Apple Macintosh
- •Using the Macintosh
- •Tomorrow Tips for Buying a Personal Computer
- •Summary
- •Review Questions
- •Discussion Questions
- •Multiple-Choice
- •True/False
- •The World of Computers
- •General-Purpose and Special-Purpose Computers
- •Yesterday The Father of the Modern Computer
- •The Portable Personal Computer
- •Types of Portables
- •Portables and laptops
- •Ps/2-Compatible Laptops .
- •Macintosh Portables.
- •Using Laptops
- •The Palmtop Computer
- •The Workstation
- •Workstation Characteristics
- •The Microprocessor.
- •Types of Workstations
- •Scientific and Engineering Workstations.
- •Office Automation Workstations .
- •Educational Workstations.
- •Using Workstations
- •The Minicomputer
- •Types of Minicomputers
- •Using Minis
- •The Mainframe Computer
- •Types of Mainframes.
- •Using Mainframes
- •The Supercomputer.
- •Types of Supercomputers
- •Using Supercomputers
- •Tomorrow a Chilly Supercomputer
- •Parallel Processing
- •Using Parallel Processing
- •The Ever-Evolving Computer
- •Summary
- •Review Questions.
- •Discussion Questions.
- •Multiple-Choice.
- •Fill-in-the-Blank.
- •True/False.
- •Key Terms.
- •Vocabulary
The Portable Personal Computer
While desktop personal computers are designed for a desktop, the portable computer is one you can take with you. Like a desktop computer, a portable computer is used by a single individual; the difference is that it can be used in many different places. It is not confined, by its size or weight, to a desktop. It has the same components as a desktop machine, but in most cases the monitor and keyboard are integrated. The printer is usually separate. What sets the portable apart is that all its components, including its special monitor, are self-contained in a very small package. These factors contribute to making it somewhat more expensive than a desktop. However, cost has done little to dim its popularity. Underscoring the fact that the computer is capable of performing many varied tasks, these special purpose computers are being used for advanced medical research, video editing, television production purposes, and in manufacturing.
Types of Portables
Today, the three most popular portables are laptops, notebooks, and palmtops. Let's look briefly at each.
■ Laptops weigh between 8 and 15 pounds, have a desktop-quality keyboard, and often offer special features such as a color monitor. Most are Macintoshes and PC-compatibles.
■ Notebooks weigh between 4 and 7 pounds, have a somewhat limited keyboard, and offer many of the features of a common desktop PC-compatible or a Macintosh built in.
■ Palmtops are hand-held personal computers that weigh less than a pound, often have a restricted or low-quality keyboard and a small monitor, and usually come with their own built-in software.
Portables and laptops
Thе first traveling computer was the Osborne-1, introduced in 1981. The Osborne-1 was termed a portable or "luggable" computer because it was a self-contained system unit, monitor, and keyboard—with a handle. It even came complete with application software programs, and there was a special slot beside the monitor to hold the disks! The Osborne-1 changed the way people used computers because now they could be taken to any place of work. People didn't particularly enjoy toting a 20- or 25-pound computer through airport terminals, but most felt it was worth the effort to have the portability. The portable computer market took off when Compaq Computer Corporation introduced the luggable PC-compatible.
PC-Compatible Laptops and Notebooks.
PC-compatible laptops and notebooks are the downsized equivalent of PC-compatible desktop computers. They commonly use 3½-inch floppy disk drives and 2½-inch hard disk drives to reduce size and weight. They usually do not have all the keys that a desktop computer keyboard has, such as the numeric keypad. Most have a rechargeable battery pack which is good for several hours of use. The notebook is the most popular portable computer these days, given its light weight, powerful microprocessor, powerful memory and storage, and crisp, clear monitor—and low price, often under $2,000.