CHAPTER-1
Types and components of a
computer system
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
Personal Computer (Desktop PC):
Personal Computers are usually found in the
home.
They are designed to be used by one person
at a time and perform tasks such as school
work, gaming, household accounts, internet
access and emailing.
Personal Computers are made up of input
devices, output devices and storage
devices all held together within a base
unit which houses all the hardware
components that make the PC work.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Advantages (compared to laptop):
better specification
Cheaper
keyboard is easier to use
heat to escape.
Disadvantages (compared to laptop):
large and bulky.
constant power supply
work in a different location.
LAPTOP
Laptops are portable computers and are small
enough to sit on your lap.
Examples:
They can be used almost anywhere due to
their small size and a built-in battery which
powers the laptop when there is no access to a
plug socket.
Modern laptops are generally almost as
powerful as a Desktop PC and are used for
similar tasks and purposes.
They have LCD screens (Liquid Crystal Display)
which use low-power. This helps increase the
run-time of a laptop's battery.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Advantages (compared to PC's):
Smaller and lighter and are much easier to
transport. (portable)
low-power.
Built-in rechargeable battery
built-in Wi-Fi
No need to transfer files onto portable storage if
you need to work in a different location. You simply
take the laptop with you.
Disadvantages (compared to PC's):
Limited battery life
Smaller keyboards
prone to theft
compact and can get hotter
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
Mainframes are very large and expensive and are
capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands,
of users at the same time.
Examples:
They are used in large Organisations for processing
huge amounts of data or to control massive
networks of computers.
Mainframes use more than one processor (parallel
processing) which means they can process many
jobs at the same time.
Early mainframes were the size of a room and got
their name because they were housed in large metal
‘frames’.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Advantages (compared to other
computers):
They can process huge amounts of
data very quickly.
Can perform millions and millions of
calculations per second.
Parallel processing means they can handle
many tasks at the same time.
They can run and manage huge networks of
computers.
DISADVANTAGES(COMPARED TO OTHER
COMPUTERS):
Very expensive to buy.
They are very large and so are
almost impossible to transport.
They generate a lot of heat and need to
be in air-conditioned rooms.
They need a high-level of training for
people to be able to use them.
PDA (PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT)
PDA’s are handheld computers with facilities
including:
Personal organiser (birthdays, appointments
etc)
Internet browsing
Telephone calls
Multimedia (video, music etc)
Advantages:
Smaller and lighter.
used like a mobile phone to make calls.
Dis advantages:
Very small keyboards
stylus pen , Limited power, Small screen
TABLETS
Tablets are relatively new internet enabled
portable computer.
They work similar to smart-phone.
Touch screen technology(touched by stylus
and finger).
Internet access(wi-fi or 3G,4G,5G)
Features:
Bluetooth
Sensors
Lower weight and longer battery life
High definition, anti-glare displays.
PHABLET
Advantages compared to laptops:
Very fast
Portable
Touchscreen technology
Don’t generate heat
Built in cameras
Dis advantages compared to laptops:
Limited memory
Expensive
Typing on a touch screen is slow
SMART PHONES
It allow normal phone calls to be made but
also an OS.(Android,windows)allowing them
to run on a multiple computer applications.
It communicate with the internet using by
wi-fi hotspot or by using 3G/4G/5G mobile
phone networks.
Functions:
Send/receive emails
Calendar functions
Surf the net
Streaming of videos
Telephone banking
Instant messaging
VOIP(voice over internet protocol)
Next generation smartphone use
touchscreen with OLED(organic light
emitting diode) technology.
Li-fi is similar to wi-fi.
Li-fi is faster than wi-fi(it has much higher
data rate).
It is more secure.
Piggy backing:
It stops unauthorised use of the internet
connection and an be used on flights.
It use radiowaves.
ADVANTAGES
Very small in size and lightweight.
Reasonable battery compared to laptop
Hundred of apps.
To make phone calls connect to internet.
Dis advantages:
Small size
Small screen makes difficult to read.
web browsing can drain battery quickly.
Data transfer rate is slower than wi-fi.
