Computer Workstations and Personal Computers Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which application is least suited for a workstation?

Desktop publishing

Engineering applications (CAD/CAM)

Basic word processing (correct)

Software development

In the context of networking, what does the term 'workstation' primarily refer to?

Any computer connected to a local-area network (correct)

Specifically diskless computers

Only computers running UNIX or Windows NT

Exclusively high-performance computers

What is the defining technological feature of a Personal Computer (PC)?

A large, high-resolution graphics screen

Microprocessor technology enabling a CPU on a single chip (correct)

Built-in network support

The use of discrete electronic components

Which of the following is a primary characteristic of personal computers?

Single-user system Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a diskless workstation from a standard workstation?

Absence of a disk drive Signup and view all the answers

Which operating system is commonly used with workstations?

UNIX Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of personal computers in a business setting?

Used to produce documents like memos, reports, letters and briefs Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common use for personal computers at home?

Playing games Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following presents a disadvantage of using personal computers?

Can lead to unemployment when used mostly in less developed countries Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the chassis in a computer system?

To provide structural support for electronic components Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary intended user environment for a personal computer?

Individual use Signup and view all the answers

Which of these features is most characteristic of a workstation?

High-resolution graphics screen and built-in network support Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature that distinguishes portable computers from desktop models?

Compact size for portability. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates a supercomputer from a mainframe computer?

A supercomputer executes a few programs as fast as possible, while a mainframe executes many programs concurrently. Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinguishing feature of a tower model personal computer?

Power supply, motherboard, and storage stacked vertically. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a minicomputer?

It is usually smaller than a mainframe with less demanding environmental operating requirements. Signup and view all the answers

Which task is a personal computer LEAST likely to be used for?

Controlling a city's power grid directly Signup and view all the answers

Which computer type can be suitably accommodated on a tabletop?

Microcomputer Signup and view all the answers

What can you use if the slots in your chassis aren't enough?

Expansion chassis Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of microcomputers regarding their operational environment?

Any room comfortable for a human is generally suitable, without needing a stabilizer or standby generator. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the cost of different types of computers?

Microcomputers are the least expensive type of computer. Signup and view all the answers

Which invention directly influenced modern automation?

Jacquard's Loom Signup and view all the answers

What statement is most accurate regarding the speed of different classes of computers?

Minicomputers are faster than microcomputers. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of Babbage’s Difference Engine originally intended to be?

Calculating ballistic tables Signup and view all the answers

Which computer type typically supports more simultaneous programs?

Mainframe computer Signup and view all the answers

Which of these inventors is credited with inventing the first mechanical device capable of performing all four basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and root extraction?

Gottfried Leibniz Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic distinguishes a microcomputer from mainframes and minicomputers regarding setup?

Microcomputers operate efficiently without dedicated stabilizers or generators for power. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the beads strung for counting in the Orient?

They marked the origin of the abacus. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the primary contribution of John Napier to the history of computing?

Developing rods for mechanical multiplication, division and extracting square roots. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Pascal’s Arithmetic machine?

Used for counting, adding and subtracting by turning crank Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Stonehenge?

It served as a giant astronomical computer Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Babbage’s Analytical Engine?

Intended to be the first general-purpose Computer Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with designing devices to punch data into cards and tabulate the collected data, which automated the 1890 U.S. Census?

Herman Hollerith Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best characterizes Dr. Vannevar Bush's contribution to early computing?

He developed an electro-mechanical analog machine. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary limitation of the ENIAC computer built by Dr. John Mauchley and Dr. J. Presper Eckert?

It had limited memory storage. Signup and view all the answers

Who is most famously known as the 'father of the Stored-Program'?

Von Neumann Signup and view all the answers

Which computer is recognized as the first automatic electronic computer?

ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) Signup and view all the answers

What was the key feature that defined the first generation of computers?

The use of vacuum tube technology. Signup and view all the answers

Besides the UNIVAC 1, which early computer was also produced in quantity and commercially available?

IBM 701 Signup and view all the answers

What was the method for programming the Mark I, computer built by Dr. Howard Aiken?

It was programmed using hand-operated switch-controlled programming, instructional data. Signup and view all the answers

What technology is used in Fourth Generation Computers to integrate over a quarter of a million transistors into a single chip?

Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Signup and view all the answers

Which memory technologies are characterized in Fourth Generation Computers?

Metal-Oxide Semiconductor and Bubble Memory Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of Fifth Generation Computers?

Combining theories in computer science, electronics, and communications Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a computer from a single-purpose machine like a typewriter or calculator?

Capability of processing large volumes of information through programs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Fourth Generation Computers?

Human-like logical reasoning Signup and view all the answers

Which class of computers combines features of digital and analog computers?

Hybrid Computers Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of computers over conventional traditional methods of data processing?

Ability to store repetitive tasks accurately Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a characteristic of Fifth Generation Computers?

Utilization of expert systems Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Historical Development of the Computer System

Computers evolved from a desire to count, compute, and store information
Early computers were large and bulky, but technology advanced significantly in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to smaller devices.
Computer history is tied to the development of hardware technologies spanning from the Stone Age to the modern era
A chronological listing of key events in computing is presented in the following section.

Summary of the History of Computing

1500 BCE: Greece - used sand trays and pebbles for counting; Orient - used the Abacus
1617: John Napier - developed Napier's rods for multiplication, division, and square roots
1642: Blaise Pascal - invented the first mechanical adding machine
1673: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz - modified Pascal's design to include multiplication and division
1804: Joseph Marie Jacquard - developed the Jacquard Loom, using punched cards for automatic weaving.
1812-1871: Charles Babbage - designed the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine, conceptualizing a general-purpose computer.
1875: Frank Stephen Baldwin - received a US patent for a calculating machine
1885-1896: Herman Hollerith - designed a system for automating the 1890 US Census.

Computer Generations

First Generation (1951-1958): Vacuum tube technology; large, expensive, and power-hungry computers designed for specific tasks. Examples include ENIAC and UNIVAC I
Second Generation (1959-1964): Transistor technology replacing vacuum tubes, reducing size and improving performance. Characterized by improved efficiency and reduced size relative to first-gen. Language for coding began to emerge.
Third Generation (1965-1970): Integrated Circuits (ICs) significantly reduced size, increased speed, and expanded capabilities. Computers became smaller, less expensive, and more sophisticated
Fourth Generation (1971-1990): Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) resulted in powerful microprocessors. Characterized by significantly smaller size, greater efficiency, and versatility.
Fifth Generation (1990-Present): Characterized by artificial intelligence, expert systems, and other advanced technologies, marking a further increase in processing capabilities as well as versatility.

Classification of Computers

By Type: Digital, Analog, Hybrid
By Purpose: Special purpose (e.g., air traffic control), General purpose (e.g., using a spreadsheet program)
By Size: Supercomputer, Mainframe, Minicomputer, Microcomputer

Types of Personal Computers

Tower Model: Components stacked; offers more space for additional storage.
Desktop Model: Fits on a desk, typically with the monitor on top.
Notebook Computer: Portable and lightweight, primarily used for personal use
Laptop Computer: Compact portable computers
Subnotebook Computer: Sleeker and smaller than full-sized laptops, typically less powerful
Micro Computers: Small, single-user devices, often found in home and small businesses.

Computers and their Uses

Personal computers are generally used for personal tasks, but their use in business has grown substantially
Larger computers are used for massive data processing, which are used in government or large corporations
PCs are widely used for personal tasks (e.g., document preparation and use of various applications software)
PCs in businesses are used for work-related functions, including word processing and accounting.
Workstations allow users to accomplish their work, including desktop publishing and engineering tasks.

Computer Ethics

There are ethical considerations that need to be followed when working with or around computers
Unethical uses can include harming others, interfering with their computer work or violating their privacy
Respectful use such as observing computer labor rules is important.

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Description

Test your knowledge on computer workstations and personal computers with this comprehensive quiz. Explore key features, advantages, and characteristics that set these systems apart. Perfect for students and tech enthusiasts alike!