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Questions and Answers
What are the four basic components of a computer?
What are the four basic components of a computer?
Which of the following best describes the function of the CPU in a computer?
Which of the following best describes the function of the CPU in a computer?
Which statement accurately contrasts hardware and software?
Which statement accurately contrasts hardware and software?
What is one of the key roles of information technology in business today?
What is one of the key roles of information technology in business today?
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Which of the following is NOT considered part of an organization's IT systems?
Which of the following is NOT considered part of an organization's IT systems?
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Which of the following is considered an input device?
Which of the following is considered an input device?
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What is the primary purpose of external storage?
What is the primary purpose of external storage?
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Which statement accurately describes the difference between external storage and memory?
Which statement accurately describes the difference between external storage and memory?
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Which device can be classified as an output device?
Which device can be classified as an output device?
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What does data consist of?
What does data consist of?
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Study Notes
What is a Computer?
- A computer is an electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes data.
- It is a machine that allows users to input data, process it, store it, and output the results.
- It has four basic components: CPU, Memory, Input device, Output device.
Computer Components
- Input Devices: Allow data to be entered into the computer for the CPU to execute. Examples include keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, and barcode scanner.
- Output Devices: Display results from the CPU to the user. Examples include monitor, printer, speaker, and headphones.
- Storage: Holds data, instructions, and information for future use.
- External Storage: Stores data permanently, even when the computer is turned off. Examples include hard disks, thumb drives, optical disks, and tapes.
- Memory: Stores data that is lost when the computer shuts down. It is faster than external storage, but more expensive.
Categories of Computers
- Personal Computer (PC): Most common type of computer, usually used by a single user. Examples include IBM PC, Dell, HP, Apple, Asus, Lenovo.
- Notebook / Laptop: A portable version of a PC with similar capabilities.
- Tablet PC: A portable computer with touchscreen input, usually using a stylus or voice.
- Workstation: A powerful computer used by scientists, researchers, and graphics-intensive users.
- Mainframe: A large computer used by organizations to process huge amounts of data. It can handle millions of transactions per second.
- Supercomputer: The most powerful type of computer, used for complex calculations in scientific and engineering applications.
Data and Speed
- Data: Consists of individual facts or bits of information.
- CPU Speed: A typical personal computer CPU can execute hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
- Memory Capacity: Memory can store billions of data items.
Maintaining Your Computer
- Keep your computer organized: This includes file management and folders structure for easy data retrieval.
- Back up your system: Regular backups are essential for data recovery in case of system failure.
- Run defrag and scandisk: These tools optimize your hard disk by reorganizing files and detecting errors.
- Remove viruses and spyware: Keep your computer secure by using antivirus software and anti-spyware programs.
- Clean the registry and software: Regular cleaning of the registry can enhance performance and fix errors.
- Keep your operating system and software updated: Updates include security patches and bug fixes.
- Clean your physical components: Wipe down your monitor, keyboard, and mouse to minimize dirt build-up.
- Shut down properly: Always shut down your computer the correct way to avoid data loss.
- Delete unwanted software: Uninstall programs you no longer use to free up space.
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