1. The Purchase of a PC Robert Grauer and Maryann Barber

2. The PC, Then and Now l IBM introduced the PC in 1981 in a three way partnership with Microsoft and Intel. The only place to buy a PC was from IBM. l Today the PC is a commodity that runs microsoft compatible software on intel compatible hardware.

3. 5 Components l Microprocessor l Internal Memory (RAM) l Auxiliary Storage l Input Units l Output Units

4. Microprocessor l Brain of the computer l Six generations of Intel microprocessors –8088/8086, 80286, 386, 486 (all obsolete) –Pentium (Classic and MMX) and Pentium Pro l New generation is faster than previous one l Multiple chips within the same generation at different clock speeds (MHz)

5. Internal Memory (RAM) l Temporary (erased when power turned off) l Measured in bytes –1 Kilobyte = 2 10 (~1,000 bytes) –1 Megabyte = 2 20 (~1,000,000 bytes) l Need lots of RAM (16 - 32 Mb) –Want to keep multiple programs &data files in memory –Graphic intensive programs demand a lot of memory

6. Auxiliary Storage l Permanent Storage Devices l Floppy Disk (1.44MB) l Hard (Fixed) Disk –Built into machine –Capacity l Megabytes (~1,000,000 bytes) l Gigabytes (~1,000,000,000 bytes) –Access Time (measured in ms)

7. Auxiliary Storage (Continued) l CD-ROM –650Mb –Speed (Access time/Transfer Rate) l 4X, 6X, 8X. 10X, 12X, and 16X –CD-R and CD-RW (CD-E) drives –DVD drives (4.7Gb-17Gb) l Other –Removable (e.g., Iomega Zip drive) –Tape Backup

8. Input and Output Units l Keyboard l Mouse l Trackball l Scanner l Joystick l Pens l Dot Matrix –least expensive –24-pin l Ink Jet –b/w or color –smears l Lasers –highest quality output

9. l Adapter cards/monitor –Video Memory (2-4MB) l Resolution (pixels) –640x480 –800x600 –1024x768 –1280x1024 –Higher resolution, more information seen on screen l Balance size of screen with selected resolution Output Units: Monitors 640x480 800x600 1280x1024

10. Modems l Fax/Modem –14.4Kbps –28.8Kbps –33.6Kbps l ISDN Modem l Cable Modem

11. MultiMedia Requirements l CD-ROM drive l Sound card l Speakers l MMX Technology

12. Purchasing Decisions l Local store versus Mail Order –Magazines –Internet (www.bus.miami.edu/~rgrauer) l Use Credit Card to double warranty l 30 Day Price Guarantee l Don’t Forget the Software –Windows 95 (included) –Office or Office Professional