Computer Basics Things Your Should Know About Computers

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Computer Basics Things Your Should Know About
Computers
Dr. Alex Pan
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Computer Features

• Plug and play
• Drag and drop
• Communication anywhere (P2P)
• Wireless
• Multimedia
• Entertainment
• Intelligent

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Components

• Take a quick look at your computer, what
  components/parts do you see?
• Can you use a computer without a mouse, a
  keyboard, a monitor?

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Components

• Central Processing Unit (CPU) A chip with
  instructions (in mother board)
• Memory (RAM/ROM)
• Input
• Output
• Storage

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CPU Most Important Component

• Why a PC is different from a Mac? Can a Mac run a
  PC application?
• Central Processing Unit (CPU) contains
  information about how computers should run.
• Brain/ heart
• Design 8-bit/ 16-bit/ 32-bit/ 64-bit

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Calculations

• Binary system 01010101 (imaging turning lights
  on or off)
• A bit is equal to a 0 or a 1.
• A key press (e.g., A, B, C, Space, ) is a byte,
  which contains 8 bits.
• 1 KB (kilobyte) 1024 bytes
• 1 MB (Megabyte) 1024 KB
• 1GB (Gigabyte) 1024 MB

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How Fast is Your Computer?

• Factors to decide the operation speed
• Central Processing Unit (CPU) speed
• Memory (RAM/ROM) size
• Programs preloaded in memory
• Other process

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CPU Speed

• 1 MegaHertz(MHz) 1 million cycles per seconds
• 1 GigaHertz(GHz) 1 billion cycles per seconds
• What is the fastest computer available now?
• If you have one billion dollars, and you are
  spending 1,000 per day. How long will your money
  last?
• How much money is Bill Gates worth?

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Memory Second Most Important Component

• Memory is essential for your work on computers.
• The first generation Apple computers had 4 kb
  memory.
• To increase the memory size, insert more memory
  chips.
• Print sense dont print unneeded work more than
  once.

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Hard Disk v. Memory - 1

• Hard disk is like bookshelf and Memory is like a
  working table.
• Your computer will refuse to work on a task that
  takes the size larger than your working table.
• Turning a portion of the hard disk space as
  working memory is referred to as virtual memory.
  Most software applications dont work well with
  the virtual memory.

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Hard Disk v. Memory - 2

• RAM operations are much faster than the Hard disk
  operations.
• Turning a portion of the RAM into storage space
  is called the RAM disk.
• When you turn off the computer, the work in the
  RAM will be gone.

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Conflicts

• Territory War.
• When an application is launched, it is spread
  across the memory board to claim a random spot
  for territory. When you quit the application,
  some of the left-over traces are still clinging
  to the territory.
• To resolve the conflicts problem, restart your
  computer.

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How Does a Computer Operate?

• Turning on CPU ? Checking memory ? Checking
  settings and peripherals ? Ready
• Launch software ? Loading data ? Working on
  memory
• Saving data to the hard disk ? Quitting
  applications
• Turning off ? Recording settings ? Log off

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What Could Impact a Computer Operation?

• Operating Systems information/ System Registry
• Order of software loading
• Repeated information piling, such as saving too
  many times in Word, Access.
• Allocated memory (especially in Mac)
• Concurrently opened windows
• Viruses, Spyware, Adware

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Questions

• How many pages of double-spaced pure text
  document (without formatting info) hold in a 1.4
  MB Floppy disk?
• How many pages of double-spaced pure text
  document hold in a 700 MB CD-ROM disc?

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Questions

• What is the capacity of your computer?
• What is the processor speed?
• What system are you running?
• How much memory do you have?
• How big is your hard disk?

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Questions

• Cinderellas computer tells her that there is
  insufficient memory to run the PhotoShop
  application, Cinderella decides to delete more
  data files and programs from her computer to save
  room. Will this solve her problem running
  PhotoShop? Why or why not?

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Questions

• How can I stop a frozen operation?
• On a windows system, press Alt-Ctrl-Del to get
  the menu to turn off the process of the frozen
  operation.
• On a Mac system, press option-Command-Esc to
  force quit the application.

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Questions

• How can I check into my Window XP system to
  resolve problems?
• Start gt Control Panel gt Add or Remove programs gt
  remove unwanted programs.
• Start gt Run gt msconfig gt disable some problematic
  applications or processes.
• Use Registry Editing programs. (Its dangerous.
  Do it only if you know how.)

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Suggestions

• Make backups.
• Store important info securely (avoid being hacked
  into).
• Scan for viruses frequently.
• Dont share your hard disk. (You may download
  MP3s but dont upload unless necessary.)