PC Computer
Systems and Barebone Units A programmable machine. The two principal characteristics
of a computer are: It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.
It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program). Modern computers are
electronic and digital. The actual machinery -- wires, transistors, and circuits -- is
called hardware; the instructions and data are called software. All general-purpose
computers require the following hardware components: memory : Enables a computer to store,
at least temporarily, data and programs. mass storage device : Allows a computer to
permanently retain large amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include disk drives
and tape drives. input device : Usually a keyboard and mouse, the input device is the
conduit through which data and instructions enter a computer. output device : A display
screen, printer, or other device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.
central processing unit (CPU): The heart of the computer, this is the component that
actually executes instructions. In addition to these components, many others make it
possible for the basic components to work together efficiently. For example, every
computer requires a bus
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transmits data from one part of the computer to another. Computers can be generally
classified by size and power as follows, though there is considerable overlap: personal
computer : A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In addition to the
microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for
displaying information, and a storage device for saving data. workstation : A powerful,
single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more
powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor. minicomputer : A multi-user computer
capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously. mainframe : A powerful
multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously. supercomputer : An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of
millions of instructions per second. A small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for
an individual user. In price, personal computers range anywhere from a few hundred dollars
to thousands of dollars. All are based on the microprocessor technology that enables
manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip. Businesses use personal computers for word
processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database
management applications. At home, the most popular use for personal computers is for
playing games. Personal computers first appeared in the late 1970s. One of the first and
most popular personal computers was the Apple II, introduced in 1977 by Apple Computer.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, new models and competing operating systems seemed
to appear daily. Then, in 1981, IBM entered the fray with its first personal computer,
known as the IBM PC. The IBM PC quickly became the personal computer of choice, and most
other personal computer manufacturers fell by the wayside. One of the few companies to
survive IBM's onslaught was Apple Computer, which remains a major player in the personal
computer marketplace. Other companies adjusted to IBM's dominance by building IBM clones,
computers that were internally almost the same as the IBM PC, but that cost less. Because
IBM clones used the same microprocessors as IBM PCs, they were capable of running the same
software. Over the years, IBM has lost much of its influence in directing the evolution of
PCs. Many of its innovations, such as the MCA expansion bus and the OS/2 operating system,
have not been accepted by the industry or the marketplace. Today, the world of personal
computers is basically divided between Apple Macintoshes and PCs. The principal
characteristics of personal computers are that they are single-user systems and are based
on microprocessors. However, although personal computers are designed as single-user
systems, it is common to link them together to form a network. In terms of power, there is
great variety. At the high end, the distinction between personal computers and
workstations has faded. High-end models of the Macintosh and PC offer the same computing
power and graphics capability as low-end workstations by Sun Microsystems,
Hewlett-Packard, and DEC. |
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