By Maria Webb

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Table of Contents

Types of Computers .................................... 3
Operating Systems ...................................... 4
Parts of Computers ..................................... 5
Hardware .................................................... 6


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Types of Computers



Desktop: a computer system, especially for word processing, that is small enough to use at a desk.

Laptop: a personal computer that is small and light enough to be operated on the user's lap.

Netbook: a small, lightweight laptop computer used especially for Internet access and e-mail.

Tablet: is a mobile computer with display, circuitry and battery in a single unit.

Desktop
Cheaper
Easier to repair
Easier to update
Laptop
Portable
Can be used
anywhere
The lid is good for
privacy
Netbook
Small and light
Less expensive
Larger battery life
Tablet
Very light
Fast start up
Cheap to repair
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Operating Systems

Operating System: A collection of software that manages computer hardware resources and provides
common services for computer programs.



Windows XP: Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal
computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers.

Windows 7: is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers,
including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, and media center PCs.


Windows 8: is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft as part
of Windows NT family of operating systems. Development of Windows 8 started before the
release of its predecessor, Windows 7.


OS X: is a series of Unix-based graphical interface operating systems developed, marketed, and
sold by Apple Inc.



OS X Mountain Lion: is the ninth major release of OS X (formerly Mac OS X), Apple Inc.'s desktop
and server operating system for Macintosh computers.



OS X Mavericks: is the tenth major release of OS X, Apple Inc.'s desktop and server operating
system for Macintosh computers.



Windows Server 2012: codenamed "Windows Server 8",
[2]
is the sixth release of Windows Server.
It is the server version of Windows 8 and succeeds Windows Server 2008 R2.

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Parts of Computers

Motherboard:
a rigid, slotted board upon which other boards that contain the basic circuitry of a computer or of a
computer component can be mounted.


CPU: the key component of a computer system, which contains the circuitry necessary
to interpret and execute program instructions.


RAM: a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be
accessed without touching the preceding bytes.


Hard Drive: a disk drive containing a hard disk.


Solid-State Drive: is a data storage device using integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store
data persistently.


Magnetic Drive: uses different patterns of magnetization in a magnetic material to store data and is a
form of non-volatile memory.


Expansion Slot: in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an electrical connector,
or expansion slot on a computer motherboard, backplane or riser card to add functionality to a
computer system via the expansion bus.


Network Card: is an electronic component that connects a computer to a computer network, usually
a LAN.


Audio Card: is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals
to and from a computer under control of computer programs.


Video Card: is an expansion card which generates a feed of output images to a display.


Service Pack (Operating System): comprises a collection of updates, fixes, or enhancements to a
software program delivered in the form of a single installable package.

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Hardware

Firewire: is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time
data transfer.


Thunderbolt: is a hardware interface that allows for the connection of external peripherals to a
computer.


Drivers: is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is
attached to a computer.


Dongle: is an electronic copy protection and content protection device which, when attached
to a computer or other electronic appliance, unlocks software functionality or decodes content.

Peripheral: is a device that is connected to a host computer, but not part of it. It expands the host's
capabilities but does not form part of the core computer architecture.

USB 2.0: is an external bus that supports data rates up to 480Mbps.