Personal computer basics Unit objectives Define the components that make up a computer and examine the inside of a computer Discuss the software that controls the computer and enables you to use applications Manipulate window content and move and resize windows

Topic A Topic A: Selecting the right computer and components Topic B: What makes computers work Topic C: Window management

A typical desktop computer

A laptop computer

Typical internal components

System unit components

Topic B Topic A: Selecting the right computer and components Topic B: What makes computers work Topic C: Window management

Hardware and software Hardware is the physical components of the computer Software is a set of instructions that a computer requires to perform various tasks

Software that controls the system A device driver is software that helps a device (e.g., a printer) communicate with the operating system An operating system is software that carries out the basic functions of a computer

Mac OS X

RedHat Linux

Windows XP

Windows Vista

Mouse actions Pointing Clicking Double-clicking Dragging Right-clicking

Application software

The Windows Vista Start menu

Closing applications Choose File, Exit from the menu Click the Close box (located in the upper-right corner) Press Alt+F4

Topic A: Selecting the right computer and components Topic B: What makes computers work Topic C: Window management

Window program components

Control menu and buttons Name/ Button Description Minimize Minimizes the window to the taskbar button. Maximize Enlarges the window to cover the entire desktop area. A window can have either the Maximize button or the Restore Down button. Restore Down Restores the window to its previous size. A window can have either the Maximize button or the Restore Down button. Close Closes the application.

Menus A menu is a list of commands that you use to accomplish specific tasks

Working with toolbars Toolbars contain buttons that are used to execute frequently accessed commands

The Save As dialog box

Unit summary Defined the components that make up a computer and examined the inside of a computer Discussed the software that controls the computer and enables you to use applications Manipulated window content and moved and resized windows