What is a
computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates
information, or data. It has ability to store, retrieve, and process
data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents,
send email, play game, and browse the web. You can also
use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
Hardware VS
Software
Before we talk about different types of computer, let’s talk about
two things all computers have in common: hardware and software.
▶ Hardware is any
part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard
or mouse. It also include all of the computer’s internal parts, which you can
see in the image below.
▶ Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do and how to do it. Examples of software include web browsers, games, and word processors.
Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and software. For example, right now you may be viewing in this lesson in a web browser (software) and using your mouse yourself about the differences in their hardware. As you progress through this tutorial, you’ll see that different types of computers also often use different types of software.
What are the different
types of computers?
When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop. However, computer come in many shapes and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cask from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you’re using a type of computer.
Desktop
Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school. Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a desk, and they’re typically made up of a few different parts, including the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Laptop computers
The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a laptop computer, commonly called a laptop. Laptops are battery-powered computers that are more-portable than desktop, allowing you to use them almost anywhere.
Tablet computers
Tablets computer or tablets are handled computers that are even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.
Severs
A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network. For example, whenever you use the Internet, you’re looking at something that’s stored on a server. Many business also use local file servers to store and share files internally.
Other types of computer
Many of today’s electronic are basically
specialized computers, though we don’t always think of them that way. Here are a few common
examples.
▶
Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of
things computer can do, including browsing the Internet and playing games. They
are often called smartphones.
▶
Wearables: Wearables technology is a general term
for a group of devices––including fitness
trackers and smartwatches––that are designed to be worn throughout the day. These devices are
often called wearables for short.
▶
Game console: A game
console is a specialized type of computer that
is used for playing video
games on your TV.
▶
TVs: Many TVs now include applications or apps that let
you access various types of online content. For example, you can stream video
from the Internet directly onto your TV.
PCs and Macs
Personal computer come into main style: PC and Mac. Both are
fully functional, but they have a differently look and feel, and many people
prefer one or the other.
PCs
This is type of computer began with the original IBM PC that was introduced in 1981. Other companies began creating similar computers, which were called IMB PC Compatible (often shortened to PC). Today, this is most common type of personal computer, and it typically the Microsoft Windows.
Macs
The Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984, and it was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface, or GUI (pronounced gooey). All Macs are made by one company (Apple), and they almost always use the Mac OS X operating system.
