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.
Watch the video below to learn about different types of
computers.
Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view
it here.
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 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.
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
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.
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