Personal Computer. A personal computer consists of a microprocessor, which includes the operating system, digital electronic instructions, arithmetic and logic circuitry on an integrated circuit, hard drive, and storage medium. The PC is connected to a monitor, keyboard, and printer for input/output functions. In personal computers, a processor generally performs much of the arithmetic and logical operations that are necessary for running applications. A word processor, on the other hand, composes text or data and interprets it into meaningful form.
Personal Computer Operating System. The PC operating system stores data in a nonvolatile memory such as the non volatile memory dump (NVRAM). The PC operating system can be a Unix-like Linux, Microsoft Windows, or a Mac compatible operating system.
Hard Drive. The PC stores its data in a hard disk or solid state drive. It can either have a fixed size or vary with the time and space available. Most personal computers have one hard disk in their standard configuration. Larger personal computers have more than one hard disk in case of an upgrade or when more than one user will utilize the computers at the same time.
Notebook Computer. Similar to the personal computer, the notebook computers are small and portable. Many people today use notebook computers instead of personal computer for the purpose of e-mailing, writing documents, checking emails, surfing the Internet, chatting, video conferencing, playing games, listening to music, etc. Notebook computers are ideal for individuals who want to carry information with them everywhere they go.
Operating System. Microsoft Windows is one of the most widely used operating system software for Windows-based notebooks and PC’s. Apple Macintosh and Linux based operating systems can also be used in notebook computers. Notebooks usually come with a standard operating system software that runs on the laptop like Microsoft Windows.
Application Software. Another software package that comes along with the laptop is application software. This is a suite of programs designed to help the PC operate. Some examples of application software are the Microsoft Office Suite of programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Computer Network. The computer network is made up of the Local Area Network or LAN. This is a group of local area networks or LANs interconnected through a physical or logical connection. The internet is considered to be part of the local network. Laptop personal computers connect to the network via a wired or wireless connection.
Notebook Laptops are expensive. Laptops can be a great investment for business owners who travel a lot or are located in out of the way places. However, cheap laptops may find their way into the hands of people who use them only for their gaming needs. For business owners, cheap laptops can be an investment. With proper maintenance and care, you can get a laptop that lasts a long time.
Personal Computer Central processing unit. The central processing unit or CPU is the brains of the personal computers. The CPU is fast but not reliable. Business owners may find the CPU a good investment because it can save on paper and printing costs. However, cheap personal computers may have similar processors as the central processing unit.
Computer System Memory. This is where the computer system draws its virtual computers, or terminals. The number of virtual terminals depend on the number of input data entered into the computer system. Cheap laptops may have a low-end system memory, but if you buy a high-end laptop, it will have superior input data processing capability.
Computer Hardware. The main component of the personal computer is the central processing unit or CPU. The CPU holds the software program and the memory to hold the information that is needed to run the program. The chip inside the CPU carries out instructions for the hardware to read and execute the instructions it has been given. The chip inside the CPU can only carry out instructions for the hardware, leaving the rest up to the input data and the output data stored in the secondary storage.
Computer Database Management. The third part of the personal computer software is the database management. The database management allows the central processing unit to save the information the computer needs to run the software programs. There are three types of database management: the desktop publishing system database management, the Microsoft Access database management, and the SQL server database management. The desktop publishing system database management is used to back up and restore the data in case of a disk failure; the Microsoft Access database management stores all the user information, while the SQL server database management backs up the data so the user can access it later.