Introduction
Are you new to using computers? Do you wonder what people mean when they say the Cloud, Windows, Microsoft, etc.? Perhaps you would just like to know more about how computers work? When it comes to learning today's technology, Computer Basics has all the basic concepts covered.
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 can use a computer to type documents, send email, and browse the internet.
For beginning computer users there are 2 main parts of the computer are:
For beginning computer users there are 2 main parts of the computer are:
- Hardware's is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the computer monitor or keyboard.
- Software's is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task. Some examples of software are web browsers, games, and word processors such as Microsoft Word.
Without these things computers would be nothing, Why would you need ram? you have no software,you would be adding a load of power into your your computer when there is no need of it.
what is a hardware?
Your PC (Personal Computer) is a system, consisting of many components. Some of those components, like Windows XP, and all your other programs, are software. The stuff you can actually see and touch, and would likely break if you threw it out a fifth-story window, is hardware. Not everybody has exactly the same hardware. Those of you you have notebook computers probably have most of the same components. Only in your case the components are all integrated into a single book-sized portable unit.
What is a software?
Software's is a collection of instructions that enables a user to interact with the computer or have the computer perform specific tasks for them. Without any software the computer would be useless. For example, you wouldn't be able to interact with the computer without a software operating system.
Adobe
Adobe Flash, commonly referred to simply as Flash, is a multimedia system for computers that is generally accessed through a web browser, though it is also used for standalone development and as a method of creating compelling user interfaces and menus on some cell phones. Flash is also the system that supports streaming video on sites like YouTube. Adobe is now promoting Flash through its Open Screen Project, which counts many other companies as members. Some phones make use of a system called Flash Lite, which offers a subset of the full Flash capabilities that is enough to enable most online Flash-based video content to be viewed. There are may different types of things in adobe like adobe reader. Adobe reader allows you to access into files on the internet for example a PDF file.
Can a computer run without a software?
In most situations, yes, a computer can run without software being installed. However, if an operating system or interpreter is not found on the computer it would either generate an error or sit at a black screen. Installing additional programs onto the computer after the operating system has been installed will only give that computer additional abilities.
What are the differences between hardware and software?
Computer hardware is any physical device, something that you are able to touch and software is a collection of instructions and code installed into the computer and cannot be touched. For example, the computer monitor you are using to read this text on and the mouse you are using to navigate this web page is computer hardware. The Internet browser that allowed you to visit this page and the operating system that the browser is running on is software.
What is an operating system?
An operating system is the most important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer's memory, processes, and all of its software and hardware. It also allows you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer's "language." Without an operating system, a computer is useless.
The operating systems job?
You've probably heard the phrase boot your computer, but do you know what that means? Booting is the process that occurs when you press the power button to turn your computer on. During this process (which may take a minute or two), the computer does several things:
- It runs tests to make sure everything is working correctly.
- It checks for new hardware.
- It then starts up the operating system.
Once the operating system has started up, it manages all of the software and hardware on the computer. Most of the time, there are many different programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure that each program gets what it needs. Without the operating system, the software wouldn't even be able to talk to the hardware, and the computer would be useless.
The three most common operating systems for personal computers are Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.
The three most common operating systems for personal computers are Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.
Hard drive
he hard drive is the data center of the computer. This is where the software is installed, and it's also where your 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 so that it can access the data more easily. When you save a file, the data is copied back to the hard drive. The faster the hard drive is, the faster your computer can start up and load programs.
Most hard drives are hard disk drives, which store data on amagnetic platter. Some computers now use solid-state drives(also called flash hard drives). These are faster and more durable than hard disk drives, but they are also more expensive.
A USB flash drive is basically a small, removable flash hard drive that plugs into a USB port. These are a convenient way to bring your files with you and open them on a different computer.
If you're using Windows, you can view information about your computer's RAM and processor speed without opening up your computer. Just go to the Control Panel (in the Start menu) and click System and Security. In Mac OS X, you can view this information by clicking the Apple icon and selecting About This Mac.
When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some of the data from the hard drive onto the RAM so that it can access the data more easily. When you save a file, the data is copied back to the hard drive. The faster the hard drive is, the faster your computer can start up and load programs.
Most hard drives are hard disk drives, which store data on amagnetic platter. Some computers now use solid-state drives(also called flash hard drives). These are faster and more durable than hard disk drives, but they are also more expensive.
A USB flash drive is basically a small, removable flash hard drive that plugs into a USB port. These are a convenient way to bring your files with you and open them on a different computer.
If you're using Windows, you can view information about your computer's RAM and processor speed without opening up your computer. Just go to the Control Panel (in the Start menu) and click System and Security. In Mac OS X, you can view this information by clicking the Apple icon and selecting About This Mac.
Microsoft windows
Microsoft created the Windows operating system in the mid-1980s. Over the years, there have been many different versions of Windows, but the most recent ones are Windows 8 (released in 2012), Windows 7 (2009), and Windows Vista (2007). Windows comes preloaded on most new PCs, which helps to make it the most popular operating system in the world.
If you're buying a new computer or upgrading to a newer version of Windows, you can choose from several different editions of Windows, such as Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. You may need to do some research to decide which edition is right for you.
If you're buying a new computer or upgrading to a newer version of Windows, you can choose from several different editions of Windows, such as Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. You may need to do some research to decide which edition is right for you.
apple mac os x
Mac OS is a line of operating systems created by Apple Inc. It comes preloaded on all new Macintosh computers, or Macs. All of the recent versions are known as Mac OS X (pronounced Mac O-S Ten), and their specific version names are Mountain Lion (released in 2012), Lion (2011), and Snow Leopard (2009). Apple also offers a version called Mac OS X Server, which is designed to be run on servers.
Mac OS X users account for 7.5% of the operating systems market as of January 2013 - much lower than the percentage of Windows users (over 90%). One reason for this is that Apple computers tend to be more expensive. However, many people prefer the look and feel of Mac OS X.
Mac OS X users account for 7.5% of the operating systems market as of January 2013 - much lower than the percentage of Windows users (over 90%). One reason for this is that Apple computers tend to be more expensive. However, many people prefer the look and feel of Mac OS X.
linux
Linux is a family of open source operating systems, which means that they can be modified and distributed by anyone around the world. This is very different from proprietary software like Windows, which can only be modified by the company that owns it (Microsoft). The advantages of Linux are that it is free, and there are many different distributions (or versions) that you can choose from. Each distribution has a different look and feel, and the most popular ones include Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora.
Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, who created the Linux kernel in 1991. The kernel is the computer code that is the central part of an operating system.
Linux is named after Linus Torvalds, who created the Linux kernel in 1991. The kernel is the computer code that is the central part of an operating system.
What is an application?
You may have heard people talking about using an application or an app. But what exactly does that mean? An application (or app) is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, and those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Much of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, and this is known as multitasking.
Types of desktop applications
There are countless desktop applications out there, and they fall into many different categories. Some are more full-featured (like Microsoft Word), while others may only do one or two things (like gadgets). Below are just a few types of applications that you might use:
- Word Processors: A word processor allows you to write a letter, design a flyer, and create many other kinds of documents. The most well-known word processor isMicrosoft Word.
- Personal Finance: Personal finance software, such asQuicken, allows you to keep track of your income and expenses, create a budget, and more. Most personal finance programs can automatically download information from your bank, so you don't have to manually type in all of your transactions.
- Web Browsers: A web browser is the tool that you use to access the World Wide Web. Most computers come with a web browser pre-installed, but you can also download a different one if you prefer. Examples of browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, andSafari.
- Games: There are many different games that you can play on your computer. They range from card games such as Solitaire, to action games like Halo 2. Many action games require a lot of computing power, so they may not work unless you have a newer computer
- Media Players: If you want to listen to mp3s or watchmovies that you've downloaded, you'll need to use a media player. Windows Media Player and iTunes are popular media players.
- Gadgets: Sometimes called widgets, these are simple applications that you can place on your desktop (or on theDashboard if you're using a Mac). There are many different types of gadgets, and they include calendars, calculators,maps, news headlines, and more.
What is the cloud?
You may have heard people using terms like the cloud, cloud computing, or cloud storage. But what exactly is the cloud? Basically, the cloud is the internet - more specifically, it's all of the things that you can access remotely over the internet. When something is in the cloud, that means it is stored on servers on the internet, instead of on your computer. It lets you access your calendar,email, files and more , from any computer that has an internet connection.
Examples of web apps
- Online Email Services: Services like Gmail and Yahoo! Mail run within your browser and can do many of the same things that email programs like Microsoft Outlook can do. After you sign up for an online email service, you can begin using it immediately - no installation is required. Instead of being stored on your computer, your emails are stored in the cloud.
- Google Docs: Google Docs is an office suite that runs within your browser. Much like Microsoft Office, you can use it to create documents,spreadsheets, presentations, and more. Your documents are stored in the cloud, which makes it easy to share your documents with other people.
- Facebook: Facebook lets you create an online profile and interact with your friends. Profiles and conversations are constantly evolving, so Facebook uses web app technologies throughout the site to keep the information up-to-date. There are also games and other web apps that you can add to your Facebook profile.