16 Questions
What marked the beginning of widespread commercial use of mainframe computers?
The introduction of the IBM 1401 and 7090 transistorized machines in 1959
During which era did mainframe computers become powerful enough to support thousands of online remote terminals?
General-Purpose Mainframe and Minicomputer Era
What contributed to the launch of personal desktop productivity software tools in the 1980s and early 1990s?
Proliferation of PCs
What was a significant advancement in mainframe computers during the General-Purpose Mainframe and Minicomputer Era?
Supporting thousands of online remote terminals
Which era saw the introduction of the IBM 1401 and 7090 transistorized machines?
General-Purpose Mainframe and Minicomputer Era
What was valuable to both home and corporate users during the proliferation of PCs in the 1980s and early 1990s?
Word processors, spreadsheets, and electronic presentation software
What characterizes client/server computing?
Client/server computing involves desktop or laptop computers connected to powerful server computers to provide a variety of services and capabilities.
What do server computers in client/server computing typically do?
Process and store shared data, serve up web pages, or manage network activities.
What is the term 'server' referring to in client/server computing?
Refers to both the software application and the physical computer on which the network software runs.
What characterizes enterprise computing in the early 1990s?
Integration of disparate networks and applications throughout the firm into an enterprise-wide infrastructure
How did cloud computing model advance the client/server model?
It provided access to a shared pool of computing resources over a network, often the Internet.
What determines the power of personal computers according to the text?
Speed, capacity, and flexibility
Why is knowledge of a computer’s power important for end users?
To make good buying decisions and determine if current system will run new applications.
What do competent end users need to understand according to the text?
The functionality of the basic components of the system unit
What is one way firms began seriously using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networking standard?
To tie their disparate networks together
What pushed the client/server model further towards cloud computing model?
The growing bandwidth power of the Internet
Study Notes
Mainframe Computers
- Widespread commercial use of mainframe computers began with the introduction of transistorized machines like the IBM 1401 and 7090 during the General-Purpose Mainframe and Minicomputer Era.
- Mainframe computers became powerful enough to support thousands of online remote terminals during the 1970s and 1980s.
Personal Desktop Productivity Software
- The launch of personal desktop productivity software tools in the 1980s and early 1990s was contributed by the proliferation of PCs and the need for users to be productive.
Advancements in Mainframe Computers
- A significant advancement in mainframe computers during the General-Purpose Mainframe and Minicomputer Era was the introduction of transistorized machines like the IBM 1401 and 7090.
Client/Server Computing
- Client/server computing is characterized by the separation of tasks between client computers and server computers.
- Server computers in client/server computing typically provide services, store data, and process requests from client computers.
- The term 'server' refers to a computer or device that provides services, stores data, or processes requests.
Enterprise Computing
- Enterprise computing in the early 1990s was characterized by the use of client/server computing and the proliferation of PCs.
Cloud Computing
- The cloud computing model advanced the client/server model by providing on-demand access to a shared pool of computing resources.
Personal Computer Power
- The power of personal computers is determined by factors such as processing speed, memory, and storage capacity.
- Knowing a computer’s power is important for end users to make informed decisions about software and hardware compatibility, and to optimize system performance.
End User Competence
- Competent end users need to understand the power of their computer, software and hardware compatibility, and how to optimize system performance.
Network Protocols
- Firms began seriously using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networking standard by adopting it for internal networks and connecting to the Internet.
Cloud Computing Advancements
- The widespread adoption of broadband connectivity pushed the client/server model further towards the cloud computing model.
Test your knowledge on the evolution of IT hardware, covering topics such as the stage of IT infrastructure, different types of computer hardware, and the general-purpose mainframe and minicomputer era. This quiz also explores the system unit, input/output, secondary storage, and hardware trends.
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