Computer Basics – Things Your Should Know About Computers Dr. Alex Pan

Computer Features Plug and play Drag and drop Communication anywhere (P2P) Wireless Multimedia Entertainment Intelligent

Components Take a quick look at your computer, what components/parts do you see? Can you use a computer without a mouse, a keyboard, a monitor?

Components Central Processing Unit (CPU) – A chip with instructions (in mother board) Memory (RAM/ROM) Input Output Storage

CPU: Most Important Component Why a PC is different from a Mac? Can a Mac run a PC application? Central Processing Unit (CPU) contains information about how computers should run. Brain/ heart Design: 8-bit/ 16-bit/ 32-bit/ 64-bit

Calculations Binary system: (imaging turning lights on or off) A bit is equal to a “0” or a “1”. A key press (e.g., A, B, C, Space, …) is a byte, which contains 8 bits. 1 KB (kilobyte) = 1024 bytes 1 MB (Megabyte) = 1024 KB 1GB (Gigabyte) = 1024 MB

How Fast is Your Computer? Factors to decide the operation speed: Central Processing Unit (CPU) speed Memory (RAM/ROM) size Programs preloaded in memory Other process

CPU Speed 1 MegaHertz(MHz) = 1 million cycles per seconds 1 GigaHertz(GHz) = 1 billion cycles per seconds What is the fastest computer available now? If you have one billion dollars, and you are spending $1,000 per day. How long will your money last? How much money is Bill Gates worth?

Memory: Second Most Important Component Memory is essential for your work on computers. The first generation Apple computers had 4 kb memory. To increase the memory size, insert more memory chips. Print sense: don’t print unneeded work more than once.

Hard Disk v. Memory - 1 Hard disk is like bookshelf and Memory is like a working table. Your computer will refuse to work on a task that takes the size larger than your working table. Turning a portion of the hard disk space as working memory is referred to as virtual memory. Most software applications don’t work well with the virtual memory.

Hard Disk v. Memory - 2 RAM operations are much faster than the Hard disk operations. Turning a portion of the RAM into storage space is called the RAM disk. When you turn off the computer, the work in the RAM will be gone.

Conflicts Territory War. When an application is launched, it is spread across the memory board to claim a random spot for territory. When you quit the application, some of the left-over traces are still clinging to the territory. To resolve the conflicts problem, restart your computer.

How Does a Computer Operate? Turning on CPU  Checking memory  Checking settings and peripherals  Ready Launch software  Loading data  Working on memory Saving data to the hard disk  Quitting applications Turning off  Recording settings  Log off

What Could Impact a Computer Operation? Operating Systems information/ System Registry Order of software loading Repeated information piling, such as saving too many times in Word, Access. Allocated memory (especially in Mac) Concurrently opened windows Viruses, Spyware, Adware

Questions How many pages of double-spaced pure text document (without formatting info) hold in a 1.4 MB Floppy disk? How many pages of double-spaced pure text document hold in a 700 MB CD-ROM disc?

Questions What is the capacity of your computer? What is the processor speed? What system are you running? How much memory do you have? How big is your hard disk?

Questions Cinderella’s computer tells her that there is insufficient memory to run the PhotoShop application, Cinderella decides to delete more data files and programs from her computer to save room. Will this solve her problem running PhotoShop? Why or why not?

Questions How can I stop a frozen operation? On a windows system, press Alt-Ctrl-Del to get the menu to turn off the process of the frozen operation. On a Mac system, press option-Command- Esc to force quit the application.

Questions How can I check into my Window XP system to resolve problems? Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove programs > remove unwanted programs. Start > Run > msconfig > disable some problematic applications or processes. Use Registry Editing programs. (It’s dangerous. Do it only if you know how.)

Suggestions Make backups. Store important info securely (avoid being hacked into). Scan for viruses frequently. Don’t share your hard disk. (You may download [MP3s] but don’t upload unless necessary.)