Information about Desktop Computer
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Desktop computer with several common peripherals (Monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, microphone and a printer)
A desktop computer is a computer made for use on a desk in an office or home and is distinguished from portable computers such as laptops or PDAs. Desktop computers are also known as microcomputers. There are four types of desktop computers: home computers, or personal computers; workstations, Internet servers, and special communications computers.
Desktops are currently the most affordable computers and ubiquitous in businesses, schools, and households; they are used for performing office tasks, , video editing, and Internet access. Nearly all desktop computers are modular, with components that can easily be replaced or upgraded.
Desktop computers come in a variety of case styles ranging from large vertical towers to small form factor models that can be tucked behind an LCD monitor.
Desktop computers are commonly connected to a power strip.
History
Desktop computers were widely produced throughout the late 1970s and 1990s. One class that Hewlett Packard first introduced as a high-end programmable calculator was the HP 9830 which integrated a keyboard, ROM based HP BASIC OS, cassette drive, and 32 character LED display and a fast printer into one desktop unit, and could drive a graphics plotter. The business unit in Loveland, Colorado that produced the series was called HP's "Desktop Computer Division". The IBM 5100, Wang 2200, and Tektronix 4051 were similar desktop sized integrated computers, some of which evolved into scientific workstations or small business computers.Modular boxes that needed external storage and terminals were named "microcomputers" to differentiate them from the mainframe and minicomputers that were traditionally available for sale by the major computer companies at the time. In 1975 the MITS Altair 8800 became the first pre-assembled desktop computer available on the market. However, due to the computer's design being geared more towards the hobbyist market the appeal of the machine was limited.
1977 saw the near-simultaneous release in the U.S. of three computers that equally deserve mention as the forerunners of today's desktop computer: the Apple II, the Commodore PET. and the Tandy TRS-80 computer. Each of these machines would be considered crude by today's standards; the TRS-80, for example, comprised a green phosphor 12" screen, an expansion box with 219 kilobytes of memory, a keyboard and a cassette recorder. It retailed for around £695. These computers also integrated display memory, keyboard, and sometimes storage and CRT into one unit.
Through the 1980s the desktop computer became more and more commonplace in society. Sales boomed as a wide spectrum of users, from the largest corporation down to the individual at home, found exciting new uses for the machines. However, it was not until the internet explosion in the mid-1990s that the desktop computer became nearly ubiquitous in our modern era.
Hardware
The hardware in a desktop computer is modular, making it easy for someone with intermediate knowledge of a computer to modify one. Desktop computers are generally more affordable than notebook computers. This is because no extra effort is needed to miniaturize the components, nor to find design solutions to the thermal management problems that arise from the use of components that emit heat in a compact space.Components
- Fan - cools the computer. These are present on most computers. There are often multiple, one to cool the processor(see below), one in the power supply, and possibly additional ones for the graphics card and general cooling.
- Motherboard (a.k.a. mainboard) - links all of the components together and routes data.
- HDD (hard disk drive) - location where all information can be stored even when power is off.
- ODD (optical disc drive) - reads most or all types of CDs and/or DVDs.
- Processor - The main brain of the computer.
- CPU Cooler - cools the processing unit. Typically a fan combined with a heatsink.
- RAM - short-term data storage, volatile (data is erased when the computer is powered off)
- Graphics card - codes video output and delivers to monitor.
- Physics card - performs physics computations in some modern games.
- Sound card - codes sound output and delivers to speakers.
- Speakers - deliver sound.
- Modem - used to access data via a telephone line (dial-up connection). Used to access BBS and the Internet.
- Network card - allows the computer to be linked to a computer network where it can communicate with other computers. Also used as a means of accessing the Internet via a broadband connection.
- Computer PSU (power supply unit) - A device that provides power to the rest of the computer parts.
- FDD (floppy disk drive) - Reads and Writes floppy disks. Although largely supplanted by CDs and Flash Drives, is still common on many systems, and may be required during set-up on certain operating systems.
Ports
All desktop computers have ports which plug external devices into the computer such as monitors, keyboards, printers and scanners.- USB universal serial bus - Used for the majority of peripherals. Designed to be a universal connector, to be compatible with any device.
- Ethernet - Used for networking and broadband Internet connections.
- Modem - Used for data access via a telephone line (eg. dial-up Internet connections). Slowly being replaced by broadband connections as dial-up becomes an obsolete technology.
- Headphone jack - Used for connecting sound devices. (USB can also be used)
- Serial - Used for connecting any device that uses a serial connector. These are being replaced by USB.
- Parallel - Used for connecting any device that uses a parallel connector. These are being replaced by USB.
- PS/2 - Used for computer mice and keyboards (These are being replaced by USB)
- Video (VGA) - Used for connecting a monitor / projector with analog signal.
- Digital Video Interface (DVI) - Used for connecting a monitor, but keeps in the signal in digital format. Usually used for LCDs.
- Power - Used for connecting the power lead.
- FireWire/IEEE 1394 - Used for connecting external hard drives and camcorders.
- Card reader - used to read flash memory cards belonging to digital cameras, mobile phones, music players etc.
All-in-one
All-in-one computers are desktop computers that combine the monitor into the same case as the CPU. The term, "all-in-one" was initially associated with Digital Equipment Corporation's VAX "all-in-one" software which provided a common menu to choose: email, spreadsheet, database, file system, etc. The "mouse" had not been invented yet so everything was driven by the keyboard. The original Macintosh introduced in 1984 by Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) was one of the first all-in-one computers, In 1998 Apple released the iMac which was also an all-in-one computer. These types of desktop computers save desk space and are easier to set up, but are limited when it comes to expansion to improve their capabilities. Some PC and refrigerator manufacturers have even included full featured PCs and monitors in refrigerators which could be considered all-in-one.See also
External links
Computer sizes | |
|---|---|
| Supercomputer | Minisupercomputer |
| Mainframe | Mainframe computer |
| Minicomputer | Supermini |
| Desktop computer | Microcomputer Home computer Personal computer Workstation Server (computing) Special communications computer |
| Cart computer | Cart computer |
| Portable computer | Portable computer |
| Mobile computing | Desktop replacement computer Laptop Subnotebook Tablet PC |
| Others | Embedded system Wireless sensor network Smartdust Nanocomputer |
computer is a machine which manipulates data according to a list of instructions.
Computers take numerous physical forms. The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century (around 1940 - 1941), although the computer concept and various machines
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Computers take numerous physical forms. The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century (around 1940 - 1941), although the computer concept and various machines
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ergonomic desk and related computer desk are furniture pieces designed to comfortably and aesthetically provide a working surface and house or conceal office equipment including computers, peripherals and cabling for office and home-office users.
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An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organisation with specific duties attached to it (see hi officer, office-holder, official); the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the
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A home is a place where a person, family, or group of people live or spend much of their time, or where a person feels safe or comfortable.
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Concept
While a house (or other residential dwelling) is often referred to as a "home," the concept of home is broader than a..... Click the link for more information.
portable computer is a computer that is designed to be moved from one place to another (in other words, it is a computer that is portable). Portable computers, by their nature, are microcomputers.
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laptop computer, or simply laptop (also notebook computer or notebook), is a small mobile computer, which usually weighs 2-18 pounds (1-6 kilograms), depending on size, materials, and other factors.
A laptop computer is much smaller than a desktop.
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A laptop computer is much smaller than a desktop.
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Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld computers, but have become much more versatile over the years. PDAs are also known as pocket computers or palmtop computers.
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microcomputer (in the 1970s and 80s sometimes shortened to micro[2]) is most often taken to mean a computer with a microprocessor as its CPU. Another general characteristic of these computers is that they occupy physically small amounts of space.
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home computer was the description of the second generation of desktop computers, entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s. They are also members of the class known as personal computers.
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personal computer (PC) is a computer whose original sales price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals.
It is unknown who coined the phrase with the intent of a small affordable computing device but John W.
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It is unknown who coined the phrase with the intent of a small affordable computing device but John W.
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workstation, such as a Unix workstation, RISC workstation or engineering workstation, is a high-end desktop or deskside microcomputer designed for technical applications.
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Server Computer
The inside/front of a server computer
Connects to:
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The inside/front of a server computer
Connects to:
- Internet via one of
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In computing, an office suite, sometimes called an office application suite or productivity suite is a software suite intended to be used by typical clerical worker and knowledge workers.
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non-linear editing system (NLE) is a video editing (NLVE) or audio editing (NLAE) system which can perform random access on the source material.
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Non-linear editing
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Internet access refers to the means by which users connect to the Internet.
Common methods of internet access include dial-up, landline (over coaxial cable, fiber optic or copper wires), T- lines, Wi-Fi, satellite and cell phones.
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Common methods of internet access include dial-up, landline (over coaxial cable, fiber optic or copper wires), T- lines, Wi-Fi, satellite and cell phones.
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A computer case (also known as the computer chassis, cabinet, tower, box, enclosure, housing or simply case) is the enclosure that contains the main components of a computer.
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Small form factor (SFF) computers are housed in smaller cases than typical desktop computers. While the term has no exact definition, it generally includes cases designed for motherboards smaller than the standard ATX form factor.
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liquid crystal display (commonly abbreviated LCD) is a thin, flat display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector.
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power strip (also known as a plug board, power board, power bar, distribution board, gangplug, plugbar, multibox, or relocatable power tap
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HP 9830A was the top of the line of the 9800 series programmable calculators, later called desktop computers, introduced in 1972, similar in capability in many ways to the later IBM PC which had BASIC in ROM.
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light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor diode that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light when electrically biased in the forward direction of the p-n junction. This effect is a form of electroluminescence.
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A plotter is a vector graphics printing device that connects to a computer.
Pen Plotters print their output by moving a pen across the surface of a piece of paper. This means that plotters are restricted to line art, rather than raster graphics as with other printers.
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Pen Plotters print their output by moving a pen across the surface of a piece of paper. This means that plotters are restricted to line art, rather than raster graphics as with other printers.
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City of Loveland
Nickname: The Sweetheart City
Location of Loveland shown within Colorado
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Colorado
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Nickname: The Sweetheart City
Location of Loveland shown within Colorado
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Colorado
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IBM PC Series IBM 5110 ?
The IBM 5100 Portable Computer was a desktop computer introduced in September 1975, six years before the IBM PC. It was the evolution of a prototype called the SCAMP (Special Computer APL Machine Portable) that IBM demonstrated in 1973.
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The IBM 5100 Portable Computer was a desktop computer introduced in September 1975, six years before the IBM PC. It was the evolution of a prototype called the SCAMP (Special Computer APL Machine Portable) that IBM demonstrated in 1973.
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The Tektronix 405x series was a series of graphics microcomputers produced by Tektronix in the late 1970s through the early 1980s. The display technology was similar to the Tektronix 4014 terminal, using a storage tube CRT to avoid the need for video RAM.
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microcomputer (in the 1970s and 80s sometimes shortened to micro[2]) is most often taken to mean a computer with a microprocessor as its CPU. Another general characteristic of these computers is that they occupy physically small amounts of space.
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Mainframes (often colloquially referred to as Big Iron) are computers used mainly by large organizations for critical applications, typically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, ERP, and financial transaction processing.
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Minicomputer (colloquially, mini) is a largely obsolete term for a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the largest multi-user systems (mainframe computers) and the smallest single-user systems (microcomputers or
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MITS is an abbreviation for several things:
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- Madhav Institute of Technology and Science(MITS)
- Management Information Tools, Inc
- Marist IT Society
- Maritime Information Technology Standard
- Michigan Information Transfer Source
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MITS Altair 8800 was a microcomputer design from 1975, based on the Intel 8080 CPU. Sold as a kit through Popular Electronics magazine, the designers intended to sell only a few hundred to hobbyists, and were surprised when they sold thousands in the first month.
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