Getting Started

Essential Computing Concepts

By Robert T. Grauer Maryann Barber Updated by Dr. Jehad Al Dallal 2013

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 1

Objectives

       Describe components of a computer system Describe the contribution of IBM, Microsoft, and Intel in the evolution of the PC Distinguish between system and application software Define a local area network; distinguish between a server and a workstation Define the Internet and the World Wide Web Draw parallels between e-commerce and traditional commerce Describe e-mail Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 2

What Is a Computer?

     Microprocessor Internal Memory Auxiliary Storage Input Units Output Units Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 3

Any Computer System

Memory Input Disk Central processing unit (CPU) Auxiliary Storage Disk Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started Output 4

Inside the Computer

         CD-ROM/Writer DVD R/W CPU Expansion slots USB flush memory and/or floppy drive Hard disk Memory chip Motherboard Power supply Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 5

Power Supply Unit Disk Drives Expansion Slots Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 6

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started

Microprocessor

   Brain of the computer Current chips for PC   Intel (Celeron, Pentium III, Pentium IV, …) AMD (K-6 and Athlon) Which do I buy?

 Pentium or Athlon for graphic-intensive programs  K-6 or Celeron for business and Internet browsing Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 8

Internal Memory (RAM)

  Volatile memory: Temporary (erased when power turned off) Measured in bytes  1 Byte = 1 character (8 bits)    1 Kilobyte = 2 10 (~1,000 bytes) 1 Megabyte = 2 20 (~1,000,000 bytes) 1 Gigabyte = 2 30 (~1,000,000,000 bytes)  New systems need at least 1Gb of RAM  Keep multiple programs & data files in memory  Graphic-intensive programs demand a lot of memory Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 9

Auxiliary Storage (Permanent)

    Auxiliary storage, secondary storage or non-volatile memory Floppy Disk    Most common is 1.44Mb

LS-120 disk is 120Mb Not available in most of new computer systems. It is replaced by USB flash memory High Capacity Removable Storage     Zip disks (100 or 250Mb) Jazz Disks (1 or 2Gb) USB flash memory (current: up to 64Gb) External USB hard disk (current: up to 1Tb)  1 Terabyte (Tb) = …???

Hard (Fixed) Disk  Most common are 200 –600Gb Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 10

Auxiliary Storage (Continued)

   CD-ROM   650Mb capacity Recordable devices also available DVD drives  4.7Gb-17Gb capacity   ROM and RAM Higher capacity than CD Tape Units  Used for large, unattended back-ups Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 11

Input and Output Units

        Keyboard Mouse Trackball Scanner Joystick Pens Microphone Web camera    Monitor Printer  Ink Jet Printers  Laser Printers Speakers Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 12

Monitor Size and Resolution

    Monitors come in different sizes: 17,” 19,” and 21”+ Resolution is expressed in pixels (such as 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768) The higher the resolution, the clearer you can see. Larger monitors let you run at higher resolutions: e.g., 19” to run 1024 x 768 comfortably A graphics card (video display adapter) speeds processing Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 13

Purchasing Decisions

    Local store versus mail order  Magazines  Internet Use credit card to double warranty 30-day price guarantee Don’t forget the software   Windows included (check the version) Microsoft Office is optional Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 14

The PC Today

 Main Components        2.7 GHz – 3.6 GHZ microprocessor 2-4 Gb RAM 500 Gb - 2Tb hard drive 1 floppy drive or Zip drive (optional) DVD / CD-ROM drive 21”- 26” monitor 1-2 Gb graphics card  Other Components        Cable modem CD-RW drive Camera Microphone TV adapter Sound card/speakers USB Ports.

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 15

Purchasing on the Web

     www.dell.com

www.gateway.com

www.ibm.com

www.pcwarehouse.com

www.microwarehouse.com

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 16

Software

  System Software   Microsoft Windows - Operating System     Home – Windows 98, Windows Me (old) Business – Windows NT, Windows 2000 Previous: Windows XP and Windows Vista Current: Windows 7 replaces all previous versions Antivirus and file compression is not built into Windows and requires additional software Application Software   Microsoft Office consists of Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, FrontPage, and Publisher Different editions contain different applications Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 17

Antivirus Software

   A computer virus attaches itself to various files and alters the way your computer works Transmitted via an infected file or floppy disk, or more commonly through the Internet Antivirus software can protect your computer, but it must be updated continually to detect new viruses Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 18

File Compression

   Files are made smaller (compressed) to reduce the storage requirements and/or time required to download a file A file compression program (such as WinZip) is required to compress one or more files into a “zipped” file or

archive.

The zipped file can be converted to a self-extracting file that is expanded without the file compression program Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 19

The Internet

    A network of networks Began in 1969 as government project No central authority and thus impossible to state the precise size Worldwide and near instantaneous access to virtually unlimited information Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 20

The World Wide Web

   A subset of the Internet consisting of all computers with hypertext or hypermedia documents These documents contain references (links) to other documents which may be on a different computer anywhere in the world Began in 1991 at the Center for European Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 21

A Client/Server Model

   A server (Web server or Web site) is any computer that stores hypermedia documents and furnishes them upon request A client is any computer that requests, then displays hypermedia documents Every client must be able to display every document from every server and does so through a browser (e.g., FireFox or Internet Explorer) Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 22

Acronyms Abound

    HTTP – HyperText Transfer Protocol is used to transmit Web documents HTTPS – Secure protocol for confidential transactions HTML – HyperText Markup Language is the language for all Web documents ISP – Internet service provider Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 23

Connecting to the Internet

  At Work or School  Via a Local Area Network At Home    Traditional Modem (56Kbps/V90) Cable Modem   Uses TV cable Requires network card DSL Modem   Voice and data on the same line Requires network card Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 24

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/bio.html

Document Path (Directory or Folder) Internet Address (Web site) Means of access Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 25

URL Format

   You can guess at the URL using the general form of: “ www.company.com

” Other domains include “edu,” “gov,” and “org,” but “com” is most common Examples:  www.microsoft.com

   www.nba.com

www.whitehouse.gov

www.miami.edu

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 26

Security and Privacy

  Secure transactions  Https protocol  Encryption Privacy  Cookie is a small file written to your disk each time you visit a site  Problem is when one site can read many cookies (e.g., DoubleClick.com) Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 27

E-commerce

  The exchange of goods and services   Buyer and seller Products and suppliers    A place to “meet” Marketing to attract the buyer Accept and process the order All of these elements are present in e-commerce and traditional commerce Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 28

Advantages of E-commerce

 For the Seller  Open 24/7     Shoppers from anywhere Virtual inventory is cheaper and extensive Lower transaction costs Target your customers  For the Buyer  Open 24/7     Never leave home Easy to view and explore product line Comparison shop Web site knows you Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 29

E-Mail (Electronic Mail)

     E-mail is simply a means of sending messages via computer Business is using more e-mail and fax To access, you must have a mail server and/or software Each person has a username and pass word All mail programs allow you to Send, Compose, Reply, and Forward Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 30

Obtaining an E-mail Account

    You will need an e-mail server (post office) to send and receive e-mail You can obtain an account at school You can pay for an account through an ISP such as AOL You can get free email accounts:   www.hotmail.com

www.yahoo.com

Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 31

Privacy and Terms of Agreement

  E-mail is less private than U.S. mail  If you need privacy, send a letter Every mail server has terms that you must agree to  No copyright infringements    No harassing or stalking No junk mail or spamming No intentional sending of viruses Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 32

An E-mail Address

   Every e-mail address is unique and consists of two parts, a user name and a host computer:  [email protected]

The@ sign is required The host computer can be omitted if you are logged onto the same network or host computer Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 33

The Mail Folders

     Inbox – new messages as well as messages that have been read Outbox – messages not yet sent Sent items – messages that have been sent (moved here from outbox) Deleted items – messages deleted from any folder Custom folders – additional folders created by the user Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 34

Parts of the E-mail Message

 Header  To:  Cc:  Bcc:  Subject:  Message  Signature  Attachments Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 35

Additional E-mail Capabilities

  Address Book  Contains the e-mail addresses of frequent contacts  Enables you to enter an alias (e.g., “Bob” instead of the complete address) Distribution List   A set of e-mail addresses stored under one name Ideal for your professor to e-mail the class Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 36

E-mail Protocols

  POP Client – Post Office Protocol  Lets you work without being connected to mail server   Upload to send mail - Download to read mail Allows almost any e-mail program to access e-mail from server IMAP – Internet Message Access Protocol   Permits a "client" email program to access remote message stores as if they were local Enables user to access messages from more than one computer Essential Computing Concepts: Getting Started 37