Basic computer Page 1

GENERAL PC KNOWLEDGE
Definition of a computer

A computer is an electronic device that accepts data, processes the data in accordance with a stored
program, generates results, and usually consists of inputs, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and
control units

A computer is a functional unit that can perform substantial computation, including numerous
arithmetic operations or logic operations, without human intervention during a run.

Note 1: this definition, approved by the customers’ council, distinguishes computer from similar
devices, such as hand-held calculators, and certain types of control devices.

Note 2: computers has been loosely classified into microcomputers, minicomputers, and main-frame
computers, based on their size. These distinctions are rapidly disappearing as the capabilities of even
the smaller units have increased. Microcomputers now are usually more powerful and versatile than
the minicomputers and the main-frame computers were a few years ago.

The input device: the input device is the device which is used to key in data into a computer, that is
to say that an input device is any machine that feeds data into a computer. For example, a keyboard
is an input device. Input device other than the keyboard are sometimes called alternate input
devices. Mice, trackballs, and light pens are pens are all alternate input devices.

The Output Device

Any machine capable of representing information from a computer. This displays the result of the
process that took place in the computer. This including display screens (the monitor) printers,
plotters, and synthesizers, printer, loud speakers, etc.

The storage device

A device capable of storing data. The term usually refers to mass storage devices. It is therefore a
device used to store information in a computer, e.g. hard disc, compact disc, floppy disc, flash
drive, etc. they can either be fixed or movable. The hard disc is a fixed storage device while the
compact disc, floppy disc, flash drive are movable discs.

The processing device

The processing machine is where all the processing that take place in a computer are carried out. The
CPU is the main processing device.
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PARTS OF COMPUTER
Basically there are three parts of computer which include the following:
The hardware:
This is any parts of the computer system which you can see, feel or touch. It refers to objects that you
can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips. In
contrast, software is untouchable. Software exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols, but it has no
substance.
Books provide a useful analogy. The pages and the ink are the hardware, while the words, sentences,
paragraphs, and the overall meaning are the software. A computer without software are like a book
full of blanks pages--You need software to make computer useful just as you need words to make a
book meaningful.
THE SOFTWARE
This is the set of electronic instruction that tell the computer what to do. You cannot see or touch the
software unlike the hardware. However you can only see or touch the package the software comes in.
Thus it is computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software. The
storage devices and display devices are hardware.

The terms software and hardware are used as both nouns and adjectives. For example, you can say,
the problem lies in the software, meaning that there is a problem with the program or data, not with
the computer itself.
You can also say; it’s a software problem.

The distinction between software and the hardware is sometimes confusing because there are so

integrally linked. Clearly, when you purchase a program, you are buying software. But to buy the

software, you need to buy the disc (hardware) on which the software is recorded.

Software is often divided into two categories:

 System software: includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer

to function.

 Application software: Includes programs that do real work for the users. For example, word

processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems fall under the category of

applications software.

The peripheral

This is any piece of hardware attached to the computer such as printer.

That is to say that it is a computer device, such a CD-ROM drive or printer,

which is not part of the essential computer, i.e., the memory and
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microprocessor. Peripheral device can be external- -such as mouse,

keyboard, printer, monitor, external zip drive or scanner- - or internal, such as

a CD ROM drive, CD-R drive or internal modem. Internal peripheral devices are

often referred to as integrated to as integrated peripherals. Also see I/O

COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Whereas display screen can mean just the screen. In addition, the term monitor often

implies graphics capabilities. There are many ways to classify monitors. The most basic

is in terms of colour capabilities, which separate monitors into three classes.

 Monochrome: monochrome monitors actually display two colours, one for the

background and one for the foreground. The colour can be black and white, green and

black, or amber and black.

Grey s