Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
LESSON 1
What is a computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the
ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a
computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You
can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
Hardware vs. software
Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two things all
computers have in common: hardware and software.
Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure,
such as the keyboard or mouse. It also includes all of the computer's
internal parts, which you can see in the image below.
Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to
do and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers,
games, and word processors.
Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and software. For
example, right now you may be viewing this lesson in a web browser (software) and
using your mouse (hardware) to click from page to page. As you learn about different
types of computers, ask yourself about the differences in their hardware. As you
progress through this tutorial, you'll see that different types of computers also often use
different types of software.
What are the different types of computers?
When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such
as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and
they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of
computer.
Hardware vs. software
Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two things all
computers have in common: hardware and software.
Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure,
such as the keyboard or mouse. It also includes all of the computer's
internal parts, such motherboard, hard drive and others.
Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to
do and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers,
games, and word processors.
Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and
software. For example, right now you may be viewing this lesson in a web
browser (software) and using your mouse (hardware) to click from page
to page. As you learn about different types of computers, ask yourself
about the differences in their hardware. As you progress through this
tutorial, you'll see that different types of computers also often use different
types of software.
What are the different types of computers?
When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such
as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and
they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from
an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of
computer.
Desktop computers
Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school.
Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a desk, and they're
typically made up of a few different parts, including the computer
case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Laptop computers
The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a laptop computer,
commonly called a laptop. Laptops are battery-powered computers that
are more portable than desktops, allowing you to use them almost anywhere.
Tablet computers
Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even more
portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-
sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.
Servers
A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a
network. For example, whenever you use the Internet, you're looking at
something that's stored on a server. Many businesses also use local file
servers to store and share files internally.
Other types of computers
Many of today's electronics are basically specialized computers, though we don't
always think of them that way. Here are a few common examples.
Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers can do,
including browsing the Internet and playing games. They are often
called smartphones.
Wearables: Wearable technology is a general term for a group of devices
—including fitness trackers and smartwatches—that are designed to
be worn throughout the day. These devices are often
called wearables for short.
Game consoles: A game console is a specialized type of computer that
is used for playing video games on your TV.
TVs: Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that let you access
various types of online content. For example, you can stream video from
the Internet directly onto your TV.
PCs and Macs
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Personal computers come in two main styles: PC and Mac. Both are fully functional, but
they have a different look and feel, and many people prefer one or the other.
PCs
This type of computer began with the original IBM PC that was introduced in 1981.
Other companies began creating similar computers, which were called IBM PC
Compatible (often shortened to PC). Today, this is the most common type of personal
computer, and it typically includes the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Macs
The Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984, and it was the first widely sold
personal computer with a graphical user interface, or GUI (pronounced gooey).
All Macs are made by one company (Apple), and they almost always use
the Mac OS X operating system.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
LESSON 2
Basic Parts of a Computer
Introduction
The basic parts of a desktop computer are the computer
case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cord. Each part plays an important
role whenever you use a computer.
Computer case
The computer case is the metal and plastic box that contains the main
components of the computer, including the motherboard, central processing unit
(CPU), and power supply. The front of the case usually has an On/Off button and one
or more optical drives.
Computer cases come in different shapes and sizes. A desktop case lies flat on a
desk, and the monitor usually sits on top of it. A tower case is tall and sits next to the
monitor or on the floor. All-in-one computers come with the internal components built
into the monitor, which eliminates the need for a separate case.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Monitor
The monitor works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to display
images and text on the screen. Most monitors have control buttons that allow you to
change your monitor's display settings, and some monitors also have built-in speakers.
Newer monitors usually have LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-emitting diode)
displays. These can be made very thin, and they are often called flat-panel displays.
Older monitors use CRT (cathode ray tube) displays. CRT monitors are much larger
and heavier, and they take up more desk space.
Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with a computer. There are
many different types of keyboards, but most are very similar and allow you to
accomplish the same basic tasks.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Mouse
The mouse is another important tool for communicating with computers. Commonly
known as a pointing device, it lets you point to objects on the screen, click on them,
and move them.
There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical. The optical mouse uses an
electronic eye to detect movement and is easier to clean. The mechanical mouse uses
a rolling ball to detect movement and requires regular cleaning to work properly.
Mouse alternatives
There are other devices that can do the same thing as a mouse. Many people find them
easier to use, and they also require less desk space than a traditional mouse. The most
common mouse alternatives are below.
Trackball: A trackball has a ball that can rotate freely. Instead of moving
the device like a mouse, you can roll the ball with your thumb to move the
pointer.
Touchpad: A touchpad—also called a trackpad—is a touch-sensitive pad
that lets you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your
finger. Touchpads are common on laptop computers.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
LESSON 3
Buttons and Ports on a Computer
Introduction
Take a look at the front and back of your computer case and count the number
of buttons, ports, and slots you see. Now look at your monitor and count any you find
there. You probably counted at least 10, and maybe a lot more.
Each computer is different, so the buttons, ports, and sockets will vary from computer
to computer. However, there are certain ones you can expect to find on most desktop
computers. Learning how these ports are used will help whenever you need to connect
something to your computer, like a new printer, keyboard, or mouse.
Front of a computer case
Back of a computer case
The back of a computer case has connection ports that are made to fit specific
devices. The placement will vary from computer to computer, and many
companies have their own special connectors for specific devices. Some of the
ports may be color coded to help you determine which port is used with a
particular device.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Other types of ports
There are many other types of ports, such as FireWire, Thunderbolt, and HDMI. If your
computer has ports you don't recognize, you should consult your manual for more
information.
Peripherals you can use with your computer
The most basic computer setup usually includes the computer
case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, but you can plug many different types of
devices into the extra ports on your computer. These devices are called peripherals.
Let's take a look at some of the most common ones.
Printers: A printer is used to print documents, photos, and anything else
that appears on your screen. There are many types of printers,
including inkjet, laser, and photo printers. There are even all-in-one
printers, which can also scan and copy documents.
Scanners: A scanner allows you to copy a physical image or
document and save it to your computer as a digital (computer-
readable) image. Many scanners are included as part of an all-in-one
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
printer, although you can also buy a
separate flatbed or handheld scanner.
Speakers/headphones: Speakers and headphones are output devices,
which means they send information from the computer to the user—in this
case, they allow you to hear sound and music. Depending on the model,
they may connect to the audio port or the USB port. Some monitors also
have built-in speakers.
Microphones: A microphone is a type of input device, or a device that receives
information from a user. You can connect a microphone to record sound or talk
with someone else over the Internet. Many laptop computers come with built-in
microphones.
Web cameras: A web camera—or webcam—is a type of input device
that can record videos and take pictures. It can also transmit video over
the Internet in real time, which allows for video chat or video
conferencing with someone else. Many webcams also include a
microphone for this reason.
Game controllers and joysticks: A game controller is used to control
computer games. There are many other types of controllers you can use,
including joysticks, although you can also use
your mouse and keyboard to control most games.
Digital cameras: A digital camera lets you capture pictures and videos
in a digital format. By connecting the camera to your computer's USB
port, you can transfer the images from the camera to the computer.
Mobile phones, MP3 players, tablet computers, and other
devices: Whenever you buy an electronic device, such as a mobile
phone or MP3 player, check to see if it comes with a USB cable. If it
does, this means you can most likely connect it to your computer.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
LESSON 4
Inside a computer
Have you ever looked inside a computer case, or seen pictures of the inside of
one? The small parts may look complicated, but the inside of a computer case
isn't really all that mysterious. This lesson will help you master some of the
basic terminology and understand a bit more about what goes on inside a
computer.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the
CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to
control the video and audio, and connections to your computer's ports (such as USB
ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
CPU/processor
The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside
the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of the
computer, and its job is to carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click the
mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to the CPU.
The CPU is usually a two-inch ceramic square with a silicon chip located inside. The
chip is usually about the size of a thumbnail. The CPU fits into the motherboard's CPU
socket, which is covered by the heat sink, an object that absorbs heat from the CPU.
A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), or millions of instructions per
second; and gigahertz (GHz), or billions of instructions per second. A faster processor
can execute instructions more quickly. However, the actual speed of the computer
depends on the speed of many different components—not just the processor.
RAM (random access memory)
RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs
calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off. If you're working
on a document, spreadsheet, or other type of file, you'll need to save it to avoid losing it.
When you save a file, the data is written to the hard drive, which acts as long-term
storage.
RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). The more RAM you have,
the more things your computer can do at the same time. If you don't have enough RAM,
you may notice that your computer is sluggish when you have several programs open.
Because of this, many people add extra RAM to their computers to improve
performance.
Hard drive
The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are stored. The hard
drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still saved even if you turn the
computer off or unplug it.
When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some of the data from
the hard drive onto the RAM. When you save a file, the data is copied back to the hard
drive. The faster the hard drive, the faster your computer can start up and load
programs.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Power supply unit
The power supply unit in a computer converts the power from the wall outlet to
the type of power needed by the computer. It sends power through cables to the
motherboard and other components.
Expansion cards
Most computers have expansion slots on the motherboard that allow you to add
various types of expansion cards. These are sometimes called PCI (peripheral
component interconnect) cards. You may never need to add any PCI cards because
most motherboards have built-in video, sound, network, and other capabilities.
However, if you want to boost the performance of your computer or update the
capabilities of an older computer, you can always add one or more cards. Below are
some of the most common types of expansion cards.
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Video card
The video card is responsible for what you see on the monitor. Most computers have
a GPU (graphics processing unit) built into the motherboard instead of having a
separate video card. If you like playing graphics-intensive games, you can add a faster
video card to one of the expansion slots to get better performance.
Sound card
The sound card—also called an audio card—is responsible for what you hear in the
speakers or headphones. Most motherboards have integrated sound, but you can
upgrade to a dedicated sound card for higher-quality sound.
Network card
Computer Basics
Middle Term 2024
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
The network card allows your computer to communicate over a network and access
the Internet. It can either connect with an Ethernet cable or through
a wireless connection (often called Wi-Fi). Many motherboards have built-in network
connections, and a network card can also be added to an expansion slot.
Bluetooth card (or adapter)
Bluetooth is a technology for wireless communication over short distances. It's
often used in computers to communicate with wireless keyboards, mice,
and printers. It's commonly built into the motherboard or included in a wireless
network card. For computers that don't have Bluetooth, you can purchase a
USB adapter, often called a dongle.