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Basic Definitions for the hardware of the system:
Hardware: Byte Enough computer memory to store one character, e.g. the letter E takes up one byte. Kb Kilobytes 1024 bytes Mb megabytes 1024 kilobytes. RAM is sold in Megabytes, 8Mb, 16Mb etc. GB Gigabytes 1024 Megabytes. Most hard drives are now sold as 1.2Gb , 1.6Gb etc. Floppy disk: 3 ½ inch disk that goes into the floppy drive. The metal circle on the back of the disk goes in facing the button on the floppy drive. Stores about 1 ½ Mb Floppy drive: This is the slot that the floppy disk goes in to. It is known as the A: drive. Drive: Part of the computer that stores information. There is the A: drive as mentioned above. The C: drive (see below). CD-ROM drive (see below) Hard Drive: This is a piece of hardware inside the computer that stores information permanently. Usually referred to as the C: drive. If you have more than one hard drive they are called D: E: and so on. Hard drive sizes are usually measured in Gb. and could be anywhere from 1 to 24 Gb in size. CDROM: a device for storing large amount s of information on a small disc. They contain 600Mb. DVD Rom: Advanced version of CD Rom with ability to play videos. Can store up to 17 Gb. Computer terms CPU Central Processing Unit. This is the "processor" the chip at the heart of your computer that makes it all work and carries out all of the calculations it performs. 286, 386, 486, 586, 686. These all refer to different types of processors. 286 being the earliest and 686 the latest. Pentium II, III,Celeron Intel’s ( Intel is a CPU manufacturer) range of CPU. DOS Disk Operating System. This is the software in the computer that makes it all tick and allows you to communicate with the machine. WIN95/98 Windows 95/98. A recent operating system to replace DOS and make your computer easier to use and more friendly. RAM random access memory. This is a type of electronic memory that only works when the computer is switched on. The CPU uses it to speed up the way that it works . Keyboard: Left hand side: From the bottom of the keyboard up. [Ctrl] The control key. Used in windows as a shortcut to avoid using the mouse. [ñ ] The shift key. When held down this gives you either uppercase letters or the characters at the top of the keys. [Caps Lock] Press once and you have capital letters. Press again and you have lower case letters. Tab key. Used to move from one position to another in a document. [Esc] often used to cancel or stop something or to close a menu in windows (this will make sense once we are in windows)
Mouse: The thing with buttons that you move about and click. There are a lot of different mice on the market. But they all have at least two buttons. A left button and a right one. When using a mouse the left button is always used to select something. The right button is used to produce drop down menus. ( A menu is a list of things to choose from).
John Turczak May 2000 |