Unit B Computer Hardware

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th edition

Unit B: Computer HardwareUnit B: Computer Hardware

Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 2

Objectives

Examine input devices

Examine display devices

Compare printers

Introduce data storage systems

Compare data storage systems



Objectives (continued)

Examine optical storage

Examine solid-state storage

Expand your computer



Examining Input Devices

Most keyboards are similar Typing keypad: keys with letters, numbers Navigation keypad

• Keys such as Home, End, arrow keys, etc.• Can be used to move the insertion point (or

cursor) on the screen

Mouse Used to control an on-screen pointer, etc. Optical mouse Laser mouse


Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 5Computer Concepts – Illustrated 8th Edition 5

Figure B-1: Keyboard examples


Examining Input Devices (continued)

Other pointing devices: Pointing stick Touchpad (also called a trackpad) Trackball

Other ways to input data: Touch screen Scanner Microphone Digital camera


Examining Display Devices

CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors Typically not sold with new computer

systems anymore

Technologies commonly used for computer display devices today: LCD (liquid crystal display) screens

• Found with desktop computers and notebook computers

• Also called flat-panel displays

OLED (organic light emitting diodes)• Used by most handheld devices


Figure B-6: Examples of monitors


Examining Display Devices (continued)

Graphics card Contains circuitry that generates the signals

for displaying an image on the screen Response rate

• How fast a screen updates the information being displayed

Resolution• Maximum number of horizontal and vertical

pixels that are displayed

Pixel (picture element)• A single point or the smallest unit in a graphic

image


Examining Display Devices (continued)

Screen size Measurement in inches from one corner

diagonally across to the opposite corner

Dot pitch (dp) A measure of image clarity

Color depth or bit depth Number of colors that a monitor and

graphics card can display

A computer monitor can be used to watch TV


Comparing Printers

Ink-jet printer Small, lightweight, inexpensive Produces very good-quality color output Ink cartridges can be expensive

Laser printer Used in situations which require high-

volume output or good-quality printouts Require toner cartridge refills or

replacements


Figure B-9: An ink jet printer Figure B-10: A laser printer


Comparing Printers (continued)

Printer resolution Determines the quality of printed output Measured in dots per inch (or dpi)

Printer speed Pages per minute (ppm)

Options for connecting printer to computer: USB port, serial port, parallel port, or

network port

Network-enabled printer

Photo printer


Introducing Data Storage Systems

RAM (random access memory) Used to store data temporarily

A data storage system is made up of: Storage medium

• Hard drive, tape, memory card, flash drive, CD, DVD, etc.

• Holds data

Storage device• Equipment that stores and retrieves data

from its storage medium


Figure B-12: Examples of storage media and storage devices


Introducing Data Storage Systems (continued)

Hard drives Preferred type of main storage for most

computer systems

Additional storage devices used with computers: CD/DVD/BD drives USB flash drives Solid-state drives Solid-state card readers


Comparing Data Storage Systems

Random access (also called direct access) Can jump directly to the requested data

Sequential access Reads through data from the beginning to

the end

Magnetic storage Stores data by magnetizing microscopic

particles on the disk or tape surface Hard drives and tapes


Figure B-15: Magnetic storage


Comparing Data Storage Systems (continued)

Optical storage Stores data as microscopic light and dark

spots on the disc surface CDs, DVDs, and BDs

Solid-state storage Stores data in a nonvolatile, erasable, low-

power chip Some hard drives, compact storage cards,

thumb drives, flash drives, memory sticks


Figure B-16: Optical storage


Examining Optical Storage

CD-ROM means read-only technology Also true for DVD-ROM, BD-ROM discs

CD-R means CD recordable technology Also true for DVD-R/DVD+R, BD-R discs

CD-RW means CD rewritable technology Also true for DVD-RW/DVD+RW, BD-RE

discs

A computer system can have a CD drive, DVD drive, or BD drive


Figure B-19: How an optical drive works


Examining Solid-StateStorage

Solid-state storage technology Stores data in a nonvolatile, erasable, low-

power chip Used in digital cameras, MP3 players, etc.,

or for transporting data

Wide range of solid-state memory cards: CompactFlash (CF) cards MultiMedia cards (MMC) SecureDigital (SD) cards


Figure B-20: Solid state cards

Figure B-22: Examples of solid-state drives


Examining Solid-StateStorage (continued)

Card reader Required to transfer data to or from a

computer using solid-state storage cards

USB flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) Incorporate the memory and the reader into

one device

USB flash drives Easily transportable from one computer to

another


Expanding Your Computer

Expansion port A connector that passes data between a

computer and a peripheral device

Expansion card A small circuit board that makes it possible

for the computer to communicate with a peripheral device

Expansion bus Segment of the data bus between RAM and

the peripheral devices


Figure B-23: Common Expansion ports


Expanding Your Computer (continued)

Expansion slot Long, narrow socket on the motherboard

into which you can plug an expansion card

Device driver Sets up communication between the

computer and a peripheral device or expansion card

USB (universal serial bus) port Used for connecting many peripheral

devices


Talking Points: Why RecycleComputers?

U.S. landfills already hold more than 2 million tons of computer parts Computer parts contain toxic substances,

such as lead, phosphorus, and mercury

Better options for disposing of computers: Sell it, donate it, recycle it, or send it back to

the manufacturer

About half the states in the U.S. have taken legislative action to deal with the problem


Summary

This chapter introduced: Components of the computer hardware Computer storage systems Expanding the computer hardware you use

with a computer Disposing of computer hardware in an

environmentally friendly way


Documents

Unit B Computer Hardware