What are the four different types of computers?
- Supercomputers
- Mainframe Computers
- Midrange Computers
- Personal Computers
What are supercomputers?
-most powerful type
-special, high-capacity
-typically used to process massive amounts of data
What are mainframe computers?
-capable of great processing speeds and data storage
-occupy specially wired air-conditioned rooms
What are midrange computers?
-also referred to as servers
-have processing capabilities less powerful than a mainframe computer but more powerful than a personal computer
-used to support or serve end users for specific needs such as retrieving data from databases or supplying access to application software.
What are Personal Computers?
-also known as PCs
-least powerful
-most widely used and fastest growing type of computer
What are the five types of personal computers?
- Desktops
- Laptops (or notebook computers)
- Tablets (or tablet computers)
- Smartphones
- Wearables
What are the four basic categories for the physical equipment in personal computer hardware?
- System Unit
- Input/Output
- Secondary Storage
- Communication
What is a system unit?
-contain electronic circuitry, including microprocessors and memory.
-container that houses most of electronic components that make up a computer system
- Random-access memory (RAM) holds the program and data currently being processed
RAM is a type of memory that is sometimes referred to as______?
- temporary storage
- contents will be typically lost if electric power to the computer is disrupted
What are Input/Output devices?
- translators b/w humans and computers
Input devices include?
- keyboard and mouse
Output devices include?
-Most common: computer display (monitor)
-translate processed info from the computer into form humans can understand
What is secondary storage?
holds data and programs
-even after electricity has been turned off
What are three examples of secondary storage?
- Hard disks
- Solid State Storage
- Optical discs
What are hard disks?
- store programs and very large data files
- data and information are stored using magnetic charges on the disks surface
What is solid-state storage?
-no moving parts
-more reliable
-requires less power
-saves data and information electronically
What are optical discs?
- use laser tech to store data and programs
What are the 3 types of optical discs?
- Compact discs (CD)
- Digital Versatile (or video) discs (DVDs)
- Blu-ray discs (BD)
What do Communication devices do?
allow personal computers to communicate with other computer systems using the internet
What is a modem?
Widely used communication device that modifies audio, video, and other types of data into a form that can be transmitted across the internet.
