George Favour20th Century Computing Devices II
In the previous topics, we learnt about the early computing devices. Before technology was invented, human beings used fingers, stones and other manual devices to carry out the
counting and calculation of numbers. As time went on, thing started developing, counting and calculating devices came in place. In this topic, we will learn about the 20th Century Computing Devices II. Some of them are:
- ENIAC
- EDVAC
- UNIVAC
- DESKTOP COMPUTERS
- LAPTOP
- NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS
- PALMTOP COMPUTERS
DESKTOP COMPUTERS:
They are small computers designed for home use, business, office use and other areas. The desktop computers comprises of the following parts:
- Monitor
- System Unit
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Printer
- Speakers, etc.
They run varieties of Operating System. The system unit often called CPU is professionally wrong. The CPU is the Brain of the Computer that takes raw data and turns it into information. It is found on the motherboard and motherboard is enclosed in the system unit case.
USES OF DESKTOP COMPUTERS:
They are used to play games, processing operation, graphic production, surfing the internet and so on.
LAPTOP AND NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS:
These are small personal computers designed for portability. Keyboards and monitors on the laptop or Notebook have two basic features. They have a single unit comprising USB (Universal serial bus) ports, graphic card, sound card, sound channel and other requirements for operation. They are built with a high capacity rechargeable battery for saving power. Laptop and Notebook can run operating systems such as MS-Windows XP and Windows 7. Macintosh computers run versions of Mac OS.
Most of the Laptop and Notebook Computers use Ram or flash memory drives that can read and write, compact disks, (CDs), Digital versatile disk (DVDs), webcam, Bluetooth Technology and input/output (I/0) ports that has serial, parallel, or wireless connection.
USES OF LAPTOP AND NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS:
They perform various and numerous computer activities, same with desktop computers. They are also used for data processing.
PALMTOP COMPUTERS:
Palmtop is a small computer usually referred to as Hand held computer designed to fit in the palm. There are three basic types of hand held computers.
Tablet personal computer (PCs) that uses a liquid crystal display (LCD) on which users can write with a special pen called a stylus. Tablet PCs digitize hand writing and often include a keyboard or mouse.
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are smaller compared to tablet PCs, and also include a stylus or keyboard. They function practically as phone book, fax sender, web browser etc.
The third type is the pocket PCs with low power processors, wireless communication features and many other features. Pocket PCs uses one or more expansion slots for memory upgrade.
George Favour
