• ISBN13: 9781592575978
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Time for an upgrade. This new edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics places you in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around, and focuses on software troubleshooting rather than on hardware technobabble. –Features coverage of newsgroups, message boards, and mailing lists
–Goes over the basics of personal finance programs
–Includes a chapter on networking
–Focuses on software, which means it focuses… More >>

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics, 4th Edition

The 4 essentials of every computer system are: a motherboard, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and a hard drive. These components are installed in a case to which are attached a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. That’s your basic computer.

Mother WHAT?

The motherboard (“mobo” for short) is the foundation. Everything attaches to the mobo — the CPU, memory, hard drive, monitor, mouse, keyboard, add-on cards, and even additional peripherals like printers, scanners, and speakers. The motherboard is like the nervous system and skeleton of the human body — it provides support for the internal components and also passes information between the computer parts.

CPU

If the motherboard is the nervous system, and then the CPU is the brain. Most of the mathematical manipulations that make computers operate are done by the CPU. Other components may also have their own processors, but their results still have to be passed through the CPU.

The speed of the computer is usually measured by the speed of the CPU. Even though other factors also affect overall speed, the CPU rating is generally seen as the single most important measure of performance.

Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 GHz and 3.0 GHz, although each passing month will see increasing performance. This measurement refers to the number of calculations the processor can make in 1 second. The higher the number, the faster (better) the computer.

CPUs generate a lot of heat doing this work, so they need a heat sink and fan to keep them from overheating. Heat is a major enemy of the computer and directly affects its life span.

Computer Memory

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the part of the computer that stores information the computer needs while it is operating. It is Random Access because the computer can get the data in any order, not necessarily the order in which it is stored. Generally speaking, the more RAM the better. 512 to 1024 megabytes is common for memory.

The most common type of RAM these days is DDR-SDRAM, which stands for double-data-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. We already know what the RAM part means. DDR means that the data is accessed twice as fast as ordinary RAM.

The latest type of RAM is DDR2. It offers even faster access rates and is quickly becoming the standard for computer memory.

Hard Drive

All the data contained in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off, so there has to be a place to store it permanently. This is what the hard disk is for.

It holds the computer’s operating system. An operating system like Windows uses around 4 gigabytes of hard drive space. The extra space is used to install computer programs and to store your personal data.

80 gigabyte hard drives are common, but 400 GB units are available. Furthermore, you can install more than 1 in a computer case for added security and convenience.

Peripherals

All you need to complete the basic computer system is a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Accessories like a printer or scanner are useful for office work, and gamers will probably want to add speakers and joystick controls.

So there you have it. The basic computer needs just 7 major components. For the best performance, these components must integrate well. The motherboard is the most important component for determining the type and specification of the other parts. Choosing an appropriate mobo for your computer needs is the first step and may require a quick call to your local geek.

Product Description
The computer how-to that’s actually coherent… Now in its third edition, this book puts the reader in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around. It identifies practical uses for the computer, and shows how to get the most out of your machine, simply and step-by-step. New information on going digital with music, photos, and video Updates for Windows XP Updates for soon-to-be-released Microsoft Office 2003 Step-by-step instructions for backing up … More >>

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics

• ISBN13: 9781592578597
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Time for an upgrade!

The fifth edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide(r) to Computer Basics places the reader in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around, and places the focus on software troubleshooting rather than hardware techno-babble. The reader wants to do something practical with his or her computer-this book shows them how.

*Covers basic office programs and how to manage photo, video, and music files
*Advice on safe … More >>

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics, 5th Edition

Time for an upgrade!

The fifth edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Computer Basics places the reader in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around, and places the focus on software troubleshooting rather than hardware techno-babble. The reader wants to do something practical with his or her computer—this book shows them how.

·Covers basic office programs and how to manage photo, video, and music files
·Advice on safe web-surfing, including coverage of newsgroups, message boards, and mailing lists
·New green computing initiatives that help protect the environment
·Maintenance and upgrading information more info

Time for an upgrade.

This new edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics places you in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around, and focuses on software troubleshooting rather than on hardware technobabble.

–Features coverage of newsgroups, message boards, and mailing lists
–Goes over the basics of personal finance programs
–Includes a chapter on networking
–Focuses on software, which means it focuses on topics that most affect novice users more info