Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
to
Computers
By Heman Lee
Operating System
An operating system (commonly abbreviated OS) is the software component
of a computer system that is responsible for the management and
coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of the computer.
The operating system acts as a host for application programs that are run on
the machine. As a host, one of the purposes of an operating system is to
handle the details of the operation of the hardware. This
relieves application programs from having to manage these
details and makes it easier to write applications. Almost all
computers, including hand-held computers, desktop
computers, supercomputers, and even modern video game
consoles, use an operating system of some type.
The Windows
Operating System
lets you talk to the
computer through
a device called a
Mouse and
Keyboard.
Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking is a method by which multiple tasks, also known as processes,
share common processing resources such as a CPU. In the case of a
computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be running at any point
in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing instructions for that task.
Multitasking solves the problem by scheduling which task may be the one
running at any given time, and when another waiting task gets a turn.
On many computer systems, the Byte is the small unit of memory. With 0-
255 combinations to work with, this can easy represent all the numbers and
letters in the English alphabet. The method of coding that is most popular
on PC architecture is know as ASCII (American Standard Code of
Information Interchange).
For example:
01100001 binary represent a lower case ―a‖ in the ASCII system.
HARDWARE
THE SYSTEM
UNIT
Motherboard
The motherboard is the
most important part of the
computer. It is the circuit
board where all of the
computer's components
are linked together.
Basic PC Components
Let's take a look at the main components of a typical desktop computer.
Beside the motherboard, you have additional components need to complete
the system unit. These include, power supply, CPU Fan, Graphic card, PCI
bus, hard drive, floppy disk drive and CD/DVD drive.
The Hard
Drive is like
a file cabinet.
The Hard
Drive stores
all of the
software on
your system..
PCI BUS
Peripheral Component Interconnect Bus - The most common way to
connect additional components to the computer, PCI uses a series of slots on
the motherboard that PCI cards plug into.
CPU or Central Processor Unit
A microprocessor -also known as a CPU or central processing unit. It is a
complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. The first
microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1971. The 4004 was not
very powerful -- all it could do was add and subtract, and it could only do
that 4 bits at a time. But it was amazing that everything was on one chip.
Intel 8080
The following table helps you to understand the differences between the
different processors that Intel has introduced over the years.
Clock
Name Date Transistors Microns Data width
speed
8080 1974 6,000 6 2 MHz 8 bits
8088 1979 29,000 3 5 MHz 16 bits, 8-bit bus
80286 1982 134,000 1.5 6 MHz 16 bits
80386 1985 275,000 1.5 16 MHz 32 bits
80486 1989 1,200,000 1 25 MHz 32 bits
Pentium 1993 3,100,000 0.8 60 MHz 32 bits, 64-bit bus
Pentium II 1997 7,500,000 0.35 233 MHz 32 bits, 64-bit bus
Pentium III 1999 9,500,000 0.25 450 MHz 32 bits, 64-bit bus
INTEL’S CORE 2
The Core 2 brand refers to a range of Intel's consumer 64-bit dual-core and
2x2 MCM quad-core CPUs with the x86-64 instruction set, based on the
Intel Core microarchitecture,
The Core 2 microarchitecture returned to lower clock speeds and improved
processors' usage of both available clock cycles and power compared with
preceding NetBurst of the Pentium 4/D-branded CPUs.[
The Core 2 brand was introduced on July 27, 2006 comprising the Solo
(single-core), Duo (dual-core), Quad (quad-core), and Extreme (dual- or
quad-core CPUs for enthusiasts) branches, during 2007.
Printers
The two common printer types are Inkjet and Laser. Inkjet is the most
common type of computer printer for the general consumer due to their low
cost ($100 - $300), high quality of output, capability of printing in vivid
color, and ease of use. The more expensive option for color printing is a
color laser printer. They create high quality color graphics and photos, as
well as sharp text, all at significantly faster rates: 25-35 pages per minute
(ppm) for text and 5-25 ppm for graphics. There's a hefty price attached
since color lasers go for $500 - $2,000.
Another popular printer is the All-In-One or Multifunction printer which
combine printing, scanning, copying and faxing all in one machine. These
printers are cheaper than buying separate stand-alone devices, take up less
space and need only one connector cable and one power outlet. One
disadvantage is that if your printer stops working, so does your fax, scanner
or copier.
Scanners
A scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting,
or an object, and converts it to a digital image. Common examples found in
offices are variations of the desktop (or flatbed) scanner where the document
is placed on a glass window for scanning. Many scanners also double as a
Modem
Short for modulator-demodulator. A modem is a device or program that
enables a computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable
lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information
transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves.
Common use of a Modem is to connect to the Internet.
Note: For high speed connection, your Internet provider will usually install
the proper modem that will work will their service.
Flash Drive
A Flash drive is a storage device that uses flash memory rather than
conventional spinning platters to store data. Unlike USB
flash drives and memory cards, flash drives tend to
physically imitate conventional hard drives in size, shape,
and interface so that they may act as a replacement for
hard drives. With nothing being mechanically driven in a
flash drive, the name may be seen as a misnomer.
Let Turn if On
All computers will have devices
(peripherals) attached to it that should
be switched on before you switch the
Base Unit on. You should switch
these on first so that the system will
recognize them as it progresses
through the ―Boot-Up‖ process.
Usually these peripheral include
monitor, printer, scanners, etc.
NEVER just turn the power switch OFF on base unit. You must do the
proper ―Shut-Down‖ from the Windows Start Menu. We will cover this in
the Windows section.
Numeric Keypad
When Num Lock is on, this act as a numeric key pad for inputting numbers.
When Num Lock is off, the keypad move the text cursor.
Home move the cursor to the beginning of the line.
End – move the cursor to the end of line.
PgUp – moves the page up.
PgDn – moves the page down.
BKSP or BACKSPACE - Deletes the character to the left of cursor and all
hightlighted text.
TAB - Moves the cursor five spaces to the right (number of spaces are
usually adjustable). Tab moves to the next field in a form or table (Shift-Tab
for previous field).
Control Key
Ctrl – control key is used in conjunction with other keys to perform a
special operation.
Window Key – Window shortcuts
Displays the Start Menu
+ E – opens Windows Explorer (Computer)
+ D – toggles between minimize and restore.
Alt key – another command modifiers similar to the Ctrl key.
Ctrl + Home – go to the beginning of the document
Ctrl+End - go to the end of the document
Alt + F4 – close a windows
Print Screen - Sends the current screen to the printer. Ctrl+Prt Scrn –
capture the current screen to the clipboard.
THE MOUSE
Intro to Computers Page 14 5/5/2009
The standard mouse for Windows XP is a 3
button mouse. For the right-handed person, the
left button is the main button. This can be
reversed to the for left-handed individuals.
The right button is used to open the shortcut or alternate menu, depending
on what you click on, the functions of the menu displayed varies.
For a right-handed
individual, the left mouse button is the main
button to use in the Windows operating
system. This is the most used button to select
items from a menu and launch programs.
Typical thing to click on are: command button, menu, icons, radio button
and hypertext.
Dragging
Dragging is used to select several objects at the same time. To Drag, you
simply hold down left button down while you are move the mouse pointer.
Intro to Computers Page 15 5/5/2009
When you let go of the mouse button, this is called a Drop. Thus the term,
“Drag and Drop”. This is an important concept you muse master in
performing many Windows task.
Double-click
This is used to execute the desired programs associated with the icons.
Mouse Over: Sometime additional information about the button or icon will
appear simply by positioning the mouse over it with no clicking.
Right Button
Additional option menu will appear. This is context sensitive which means a
different menu will appear based on what you click on.
Scroll Wheel/Button
The middle scroll button functions in two way. As a wheel you can scroll up
and down a page by rolling to button up or down. The second method is to
click on it like a button. This will
create the Anchor on your page.
Click the Scroll Button the place the
anchor on the page. Move the mouse
up or down away from the Anchor will
cause the page to scroll up or down.
Exercise 1
Selecting and De-Selecting
1. Click on any desktop icon.
2. Watch the color change.
3. Click on an open area of the desktop
4. Watch the color change back.
5. Repeat Step 1 to 4 for all icons.
User picture
can be changed
Username
Password
Shutdown
Button
The Desktop
Desktop Sidebar
Icons Gadgets
Start Button
Start Button – The Start Button is the starting point for launching almost
every pr0ogram on your computer.
System Tray – The system tray allows you to set preferences to commonly
accessed task and programs on your computer. Besides showing the clock,
utilities type programs (Anti-Virus, Firewall, etc) usually shows up in the
System Tray.
Taskbar – The bar show all active applications running on your system. It
can be used to launch and monitor all of applications. This concept was first
introduce on Windows 95.
Pinned
Special
Programs
Folders
added by
the user.
Recent
Programs
Common
Tools
The Start Menu is the first place you will see the most dramatic change in
the Windows Vista interface. You have 2 columns in the new Start Menu.
On the right hand side, you see the icons which you previously accessed
through desktop icons, some settings, and other commands from the former
Start Menu.
Intro to Computers Page 21 5/5/2009
Open a Windows
The main function of any operating system is being an intermediary between
us and the physical parts of the computer (screen, keyboard, hard disk,
printer,...), making it easier to handle.
For example, there is no need for us to know exactly in what part of the hard
disk we have saved a certain document we created, the operating systems
takes care of it.
Double-Click = Open
Double-Clicking on the Icon is the most popular way to open a window.
Please take the time to master this skill.
Element of a Windows
The Tltle bar
The title bar contains the name of the program you are working on and in
some cases the name of the opened document will appears. In the top right
corner we can find the minimize, maximize/restore, and close buttons.
Menu bar
List all of the command category for an application in the form of ―Drop
Down Menus‖.
Tool bar
Contain commonly used tools usually in a form of icons or buttons for an
application.
Status bar
It’s the bar at the very bottom of the screen. I may show active information
such as page number, number lock status or memory size.
Scroll bar
When a window is size smaller that what can be display, scroll bar will
automatically appear either horizontally or vertically.
Workspace
The workspace is the area of the window where you do your work. It is
different for every application. The workspace in WordPad allows you to
type and save your document where as the workspace in Internet Explorer
display web pages from the internet.
The Minimize button shrinks the window it turns it into a button located
in the Windows task bar. The program still remains in RAM.
The Maximize amplifies the size of the window to fill the whole screen.
From the Maximize state, the
Restore button restores the window to its original state.
The Close button closes the window. The program is release from
RAM. Therefore, if we've modified the document, we are asked if we want
to Save the changes before closing.
Normal Select
Help Select
Working in background
Busy
Precision Select
Text Select
Handwriting
Unavailable
Vertical Resize
Horizontal Resize
Diagonal Resize 1
Diagonal Resize 2
Move
Alternate Select
Link Select
XP Shut Down
To Move a Windows
Position the mouse pointer on the windows title bar. Hold down the left
button while you drag the window to another location on the desktop.
To Move an Icon
Position the mouse pointer on the icon and drag and drop to a new location.
To Resize a Windows:
Position the mouse pointer on the window border you wish to size.
Intro to Computers Page 26 5/5/2009
When the mouse pointer changes to a double arrow, drag the border to the
desired size.
Resize Horizontally
Drag from either
vertical border.
Resize Vertically
Drag from either
horizontal border.
DVD RW (E:)
Flash Drive
Windows Explorer is the program that allows you to see file, folder and
devices on the computer. (ie Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, Flash Drive, SD
Memory Card, etc.) Each physical device is assign a Drive letter name (A:,
B: C:, etc).
My Document (XP)
By Default, your My Document folder is on C: drive. Everything you
create, word processing, spreadsheet, picture, video, etc is in this folder. In
Windows Vista, the My Document folder is replaced by your users logon
name.
Vista has built-in default folders to organize you document, picture and
video. These are known as ―Special Folders‖.
Exercise 3
Computer Games - Solitaire
1. Open Start Menu
2. Click on All Programs
3. Click on Games>Solitaire
4. Go to Help for instructions
Preview
List Box
Options
Slider
control
Command
Button
Exercise 4 – Right-click
Dialog Box, List Box, tabs and Command Buttons
1. Right-click on an open area of the desktop.
2. Select Properties(XP) or Personalize (Vista) from the context menu.
3. Click Screen Saver.
4. Under Screen saver, click on the to launch a drop-down list box
5. Change Screensaver wait time.
6. Change Desktop Background.
7. Change Display setting.
8. Click OK to save or Cancel to abort.
Access a CD
1. Click on the Start Menu.
2. Click My Computer or Computer
3. Insert your student CD into one of the CD Drives.
4. Watch the icon change in the My Computer windows.
5. Double-Click on the CD icon.
6. View the contents of the CD.
Exercise 5
Let put is all together
1. Open these four applications: Internet Explorer, WordPad, Paint and
Calculator.
2. Arrange the application windows to look like the following:
Paint
WordPad
WordPad
Internet Explorer
Calculator
FAQ
How do I change pointers?
You can change pointer schemes by opening the Mouse Properties dialog
box at the Pointers tab. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel,
double-click Mouse, and then click the Pointers tab.