Introduction to the Personal Computer

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Introduction to the Personal Computer

• Chapter 1

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Overview

• In this chapter, you will learn how to
• Describe how the PC works
• Identify common computer hardware components
• Describe microcomputer operating systems

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How the PC Works
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Overview

• Most people separate the PC into two parts
• Hardware
• Software
• Operating system
• Applications

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Stages of Operation

• Computer functions thru four stages
• Input provides the computer with data
• Keyboard and mouse
• Processing is when the computer processes or
  manipulates your data
• Output is seeing the result of processing your
  data
• Monitor and printer
• Storage is how you keep your data for later use
• Floppy diskette, CD-ROM disk, hard drive
• Hardware and software interact together to
  accomplish the four stages above

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Microcomputers

• A microcomputer is a computer built around a
  special integrated circuit (IC), or chip, the
  performs calculations or processing
• The chip is called the central processing unit
  (CPU), or microprocessor

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Personal Computers

• Microcomputers are now called personal computers
  (PC)
• Comply with standards set and supported by
  Microsoft, Intel, and other companies (Wintel)
• Macintosh computers do not follow these standards
  but are a significant second-place competitor
• Popular for high-quality graphical and multimedia
  applications
• Desktops and laptops are usually Microsoft/Intel
  compatible

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Servers

• Servers play one of several roles in a network
• File servers store data files for users and
  companies
• Print servers manage printers on the network
• Messaging servers provide e-mail and fax
  capabilities
• Web servers house web sites that users may access
• One computer may serve multiple functions
• Clients receive services from servers

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Handheld Devices

• Handheld devices still function as a
  microcomputer
• Examples include
• Wireless phones that also allow you to connect to
  the Internet or check e-mail
• Devices used to track inventory by some store
  employees

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Microcomputer Hardware
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CPU

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Also called a microprocessor
• Performs calculations
• Modern CPUs generate a lot of heat
• Uses a cooling fan and/or heat sink

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Processor Modes

• An operating system is written to work with a
  specific processor (or CPU) and chipset
• Processor modes include
• Real mode
• 286 protected mode
• 386 protected mode

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Processors

• 16-Bit
• 8086 and 8088 processors could work with 16 bits
  of data at a time
• A bit is a binary digit, 0 or 1

• 32-Bit
• 80386DX thru Intel Pentium processors can work
  with 32 bits of data at a time
• Some processors today can handle 64 bits of data
  at a time

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RAM

• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Stores programs and data your PC is currently
  working on
• Measured in megabytes (MB)
• Each piece or module of RAM is called a stick
• Packages include
• Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM)
• Single Inline Memory Module (SIMM)

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Motherboard

• The motherboard is a thin, flat piece of circuit
  board
• Everything connects directly or indirectly to the
  motherboard
• Contains sockets for the CPU, RAM, power
  connectors, connectors for external devices like
  mice, printers, and keyboards
• Expansion slots allow the addition of new
  components

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ROM and System BIOS

• Read Only Memory (ROM) stores programs
  permanently
• Some ROM memory can be modified
• BIOS is a set of program instructions for
  starting the computer and for controlling basic
  communication between the processor and other
  components (Basic Input/Output Services)
• System BIOS is stored in ROM

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CMOS

• The CMOS system setup program lets you define
  basic configuration information for changeable
  hardware
• Stored on a CMOS chip (Complementary Metal-Oxide
  Semiconductor)
• Basic configuration information includes
• Type and capacity of installed hard and floppy
  disk drives
• Disk boot order
• Configuration of system memory
• Power Management configuration

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Bits Bytes

• The amount of memory or disk space is measured in
  megabytes or gigabytes
• Smallest unit of measurement is the bit (binary
  digit) consisting of a 0 or 1
• Used to describe the state as on or off
• A byte is 8 bits (just like a foot is 12 inches)
• A kilobyte is 1024 bytes (about a thousand bytes)
• A megabyte is 1024 kilobytes (about a million
  bytes)
• A gigabyte is 1024 megabytes (about a billion
  bytes)

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Display Adapter Monitor

• Display adapters or video cards connect to
  monitors
• Use a 15-pin female DB connector or the newer
  digital video interface (DVI) connector
• Monitors display information and come two basic
  types
• Cathode-ray tube (CRT) like a TV
• Liquid crystal display (LCD) or flat panel

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Keyboard

• Keyboards come in many sizes and shapes
• An input device
• Uses a typewriter style layout called QWERTY

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Pointing Devices

• A mouse allows you to move a graphical pointer
  (cursor) around on the screen when using a
  graphical user interface (GUI)
• Uses a device driver (software that helps the CPU
  understand the device) to translate its movements
  into movements on the screen
• Mice used to connect to the PC
• Trackballs, joysticks, and light pens
  are other pointing devices

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Disk Drives

• The floppy drive uses floppy diskettes to store
  data
• A hard drive stores programs or data not
  currently in use by the processor
• PC may contain up to four hard drives
• Contains rigid platters
• Compact disc (CD) and digital versatile disc
  (DVD) use light to store and read data
• Floppy and hard drives are always rewriteable
• CDs and DVDs may be read-only or writeable

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Peripheral Devices

• Peripheral devices refer to any computer
  components beyond the motherboard, but we often
  use the term to refer to non-essential add-on
  devices
• Printers
• Scanners
• Digital cameras
• External modems

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Microcomputer Operating Systems
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Operating System

• An operating system is the program or set of
  programs that acts as the central control
  program for the computer
• The OS is loaded or booted when the computer
  starts
• Main component is the kernel
• Acts as the intermediary between applications and
  hardware

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User Interface

• The user interface is the software layer, or
  shell, that the user uses to communicate with the
  OS
• Includes the command processor that loads
  programs into memory
• Includes visual components that you see on the
  monitor
• DOS provided only monochrome characters that were
  used to issue commands to the computer
• Apples Mac OSs and Microsofts Windows OSs
  provide a graphical user interface

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Yesterdays OSs

• The first consumer computers were
• Apples Apple II
• Radio Shacks TRS-80
• Commodores PET
• Early computers did not have an OS programmers
  wrote I/O functions directly into their programs
• As computers began to do more than one
  specialized task a need for an operating system
  began to develop

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DOS, CP/M, Apple

• Killer apps were applications that people really
  needed
• Spreadsheets led to the creation of one of the
  first valuable killer apps, VisiCalc, that ran on
  an Apple II
• The next killer app was Lotus 1-2-3, a DOS
  spreadsheet that surpassed VisiCalc and ran on an
  IBM PC

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OS/2

• Microsoft and IBM developed OS/2 (Operating
  System 2) jointly to replace DOS in 1987
• Required a lot of memory and hard drive space
  based on standards at the time
• Could not run many DOS applications
• IBM introduced OS/2 Warp in the 1990s for the
  high-end server market

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Microsoft Windows

• First introduced in 1985
• Ran on top of DOS
• Windows 3.0 was introduced in 1990 and was a
  great improvement over previous versions of
  Windows
• Could run both DOS and Windows applications
• Microsoft introduced a minor upgrade, Windows
  3.1, in the spring of 1992
• Adopted as the standard desktop by many
  organizations

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Windows for Workgroups

• Thru Windows 3.x you needed a separate Network
  Operating System (NOS) to connect to a network
• 3Com
• Novell NetWare
• Microsofts LAN Manager
• Specialized client software allows users to
  connect to a server
• Microsoft began including both the server and
  client software as part of their operating
  systems with Windows for Workgroups in October
  1992

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Todays Operating Systems
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DOS from Microsoft

• DOS (Disk Operating System)
• Each major version released supported larger disk
  capacities and added functionality
• MS-DOS 6.22 was the last widely used version
• DOS prompt
• Text-mode, command-line interface that required
  remembering a number of cryptic commands
• DOS is not likely chosen as the main OS anymore
  but techs frequently use a command-line interface
  even today

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Windows NT

• Windows NT began with version 3.1
• Looked a lot like Windows 3.1
• Unlike Windows 3.1, NT does not sit on top of DOS
• First Microsoft OS to take full advantage of
  protected mode adding better security and
  stability
• NT 3.5 consisted of two products
• Windows NT Workstation for users
• Windows NT Server
• Windows NT 4.0 was introduced in 1996

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Windows 98

• Windows 98 offered great improvements that were
  both visible and under-the-hood
• More options for customizing the GUI
• Tighter integration with a web browser
• Better support for devices built-in
• Supported plug and play
• Predated by Windows 95
• A large number of people still use Windows 98
  today

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Windows Me

• Windows Me (Millennium Edition)
• Targeted to home market
• Windows 98 with improved video, music, and home
  networking support
• Last Microsoft OS based on the Windows 95 kernel
• Included on many computers sold to individuals
  but not used in work environments

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Windows 2000

• Windows 2000 brought together the best of Windows
  98 and Windows NT
• Several versions including Professional, Server,
  Advanced Server, and Enterprise Edition
• Professional is still used as a standard OS on
  the desktop
• Gradually being replaced by Windows XP

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Windows XP

• Windows XP brings all of Microsofts OSs together
  on top of the same kernel
• Released for the desktop only
• Windows Server 2003 has been released for servers
• Windows XP Home Edition is for home usage
• Windows XP Professional includes network and
  security features beyond those of the home edition

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Macintosh OSs

• Macintosh OSs run only on Apple Macintosh
  computers
• Mac OS 9
• Mac OS X (for 10)
• Has a UNIX origin
• First MAC OS to offer a command line
• Macintosh hardware and software are proprietary
  products
• Based on an entirely different architecture than
  Microsoft/Intel computers

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UNIX/Linux

• UNIX was a portable (ability to run on different
  types of computers) operating system for
  minicomputers and mainframe computers
• Distributed via government and commercial
  licenses and inexpensive academic licenses

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Current OSs
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