Personal Computer Concepts

by Martin, Edward G.

• ISBN13: 9780030259692
• ISBN10: 003025969X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Course Technology

Summary

[This text is] created to provide a highly compact and current presentation of the world of PCs for students taking a first course in computers. It contains the knowledge one absolutely needs to know to understand how PCs work and how they can be used to maximum benefit. [The text discusses] such topics as storage and processing concepts, types of computer systems, PC hardware, PC software, communications systems fundamentals the Internet and the World Wide Web, shopping for a PC, and social issues regarding technology. -Pref.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
Introduction to Personal Computers	1	(28)
Overview	2	(1)
PCs in the Workplace	3	(1)
What's a Personal Computer?	3	(3)
The Role of Data and Programs	6	(2)
Data: A Multimedia Perspective	6	(1)
Programs: The Instructions That Shape Data	7	(1)
A Closer Look at Storage	8	(1)
Memory	8	(1)
Secondary Storage	8	(1)
Hardware and Software	9	(3)
Hardware	9	(1)
Software	9	(3)
Organizing Data and Programs	12	(3)
Documents and Folders	12	(2)
Web-Page Organization	14	(1)
Fields, Records, Files, and Databases	14	(1)
Types of PCs	15	(2)
Desktop Units	15	(1)
Portables	16	(1)
PC-Compatible or Macintosh?	16	(1)
Computer Networks	17	(2)
Accessing Networks	18	(1)
Online and Offline	18	(1)
Using PCs: A Comprehensive Example	19	(3)
Summary and Key Terms	22	(1)
Exercises	23	(2)
Projects	25	(2)
Online Review	27	(2)
Hardware	29	(44)
Overview	30	(1)
Input Hardware	31	(2)
Keyboards	31	(1)
Pointing Devices	31	(2)
Image Scanners	33	(1)
Processing Hardware	33	(15)
Bits and Bytes: The Building Blocks of Computer Logic	34	(6)
Looking Inside the System Unit	40	(8)
Secondary Storage Hardware	48	(9)
Properties of Secondary Storage Systems	48	(1)
Diskettes	49	(3)
Hard Disks	52	(2)
Optical Disks	54	(2)
Cartridge Tapes	56	(1)
Output Hardware	57	(7)
Monitors	57	(2)
Printers	59	(3)
Special-Purpose Output Devices	62	(2)
Summary and Key Terms	64	(2)
Exercises	66	(2)
Projects	68	(3)
Interactive Exercise	71	(1)
Online Review	71	(2)
Software	73	(48)
Overview	74	(1)
Whose Software Is It?	75	(2)
Proprietary Software	75	(1)
Shareware	76	(1)
Freeware	76	(1)
The User Interface	77	(3)
Command Syntax	77	(1)
Shortcut Keystrokes	78	(1)
Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)	78	(2)
Elements of a Graphical User Interface	80	(12)
Menus	80	(6)
Windows	86	(4)
Dialog Boxes	90	(1)
Online Help	91	(1)
Systems Software	92	(8)
Operating Systems	92	(6)
Utility Programs	98	(1)
Language Translators	99	(1)
Applications Software	100	(12)
Software Suites	100	(1)
Word Processors	101	(1)
Spreadsheets	101	(5)
Database Management Systems	106	(2)
Other Productivity Software	108	(4)
Summary and Key Terms	112	(2)
Exercises	114	(2)
Projects	116	(3)
Interactive Exercises	119	(1)
Online Review	119	(2)
Communications and Networks	121	(38)
Overview	122	(1)
Telecommunications Applications	123	(6)
Electronic Mail and Messaging	123	(2)
Information Retrieval and the Web	125	(1)
Collaborative Computing	126	(2)
Transaction Processing	128	(1)
Telecommunications Media	129	(5)
Wire Media	129	(3)
Wireless Media	132	(2)
Adapting Computers to Telecommunications Media	134	(6)
Sending Data over Media	135	(1)
Network Interface Cards and Modems	136	(3)
ISDN and Beyond	139	(1)
Network Topologies	140	(1)
Local Networks	140	(5)
Local Area Networks (LANs)	142	(2)
Hierarchical Local Networks	144	(1)
Wide Area Networks (WANs)	145	(1)
Handling WAN Traffic	145	(1)
Communications Protocols	146	(7)
Summary and Key Terms	153	(2)
Exercises	155	(1)
Projects	156	(1)
Interactive Exercise	157	(1)
Online Review	157	(2)
Introduction to the Internet and World Wide Web	159	(46)
Overview	160	(1)
Evolution of the Internet	161	(5)
From the ARPANET to the World Wide Web	161	(2)
The Internet Community Today	163	(2)
Myths about the Internet	165	(1)
What Does the Internet Have to Offer?	166	(10)
E-Mail	166	(2)
Information Retrieval and the World Wide Web	168	(3)
Mailing Lists	171	(1)
Newsgroups	172	(1)
Chat	173	(2)
Online Shopping	175	(1)
Internet Addresses	176	(2)
Desktop Tools for Accessing the Internet	178	(14)
Browsers and Plug-In Packages	178	(10)
Search Engines	188	(4)
Hardware Considerations	192	(1)
Connecting to the Internet	192	(5)
About Service Providers	192	(1)
Selecting a Provider	193	(2)
Setting Up Your System	195	(2)
Summary and Key Terms	197	(2)
Exercises	199	(1)
Projects	200	(3)
Interactive Exercises	203	(1)
Online Review	203	(2)
Developing Your Own PC	205	(32)
Overview	206	(1)
The PC Marketplace	207	(5)
PC Products	207	(1)
Sales and Distribution	208	(4)
Selecting a PC	212	(5)
Analyzing Needs	213	(1)
Listing Alternatives	213	(2)
Evaluating Alternatives	215	(1)
Choosing a System	216	(1)
Hardware and Software Installation	217	(1)
Operating a PC	218	(8)
Backup Procedures	218	(1)
Equipment Maintenance	219	(3)
Security	222	(1)
Troubleshooting and Technical Assistance	222	(4)
Upgrading	226	(3)
Upgrading Hardware	227	(1)
Upgrading Software	227	(1)
Functional versus Technological Obsolescence	228	(1)
Learning More about PCs	229	(2)
Summary and Key Terms	231	(1)
Exercises	232	(1)
Projects	233	(3)
Online Review	236	(1)
Social Issues Involving Computers	237	(30)
Overview	238	(1)
Computers, Work, and Our Well-Being	239	(2)
Stress-Related Concerns	239	(1)
Ergonomics-Related Concerns	240	(1)
Environment-Related Concerns	241	(1)
Computer Crime	241	(10)
Types of Computer Crime	242	(4)
Minimizing Computer Crime	246	(4)
Crime Legislation	250	(1)
Computers and Privacy	251	(5)
Privacy and Electronic Mail	251	(2)
Privacy and Marketing Databases	253	(1)
Privacy and the Internet	253	(1)
Caller Identification	254	(2)
Privacy Legislation	256	(1)
Ethical Issues Regarding Computers	256	(3)
Some Examples	258	(1)
Why Study Ethics?	258	(1)
Summary and Key Terms	259	(1)
Exercises	260	(2)
Projects	262	(3)
Interactive Exercise	265	(1)
Online Review	265	(2)
Glossary	267	(10)
Index	277	(6)
Credits	283