Hardware

The term hardware refers to the physical components forming the computer which are nothing but input, output, storage and processing units and additional accessories such as system unit, mouse, keyboard, monitor, disk drives etc.

Computer hardware comes in two basic types: (1) External  (2) Internal

External :

It refers to hardware that connects to the outside of the computer case. For an example monitor, keyboard, and mouse are the common external hardware devices. The speakers and printer are also external hardware components.

Internal :

It refers to hardware that inside the computer case. For an example: Central Processing Unit (CPU), RAM, Disk drives, and Mother Board are internal hardware components.

Read More

What is Software and Types of Software

The term of software refers to programs which are invisible to the eye and which are essential to be made use by the user to run on the computers either to run the system or to run his job. Software is a set of programs and the program is a set of the instructions. An instruction is any character or word or group of words which instruct the computer in a way that the computer can understand.

Computer Software may be broadly classified into two types.

(a) System Software

(b) Applications Software

System Software:

System Software is used to run the system and control the system. System software mainly consists of operating system and maintenance tools.

Operating system acts as the interface between the applications software and the hardware. it consists of  3 basic modules. Namely (a) I-O Control (b) File Control (c) Process Control

The operating  system is a set of programs that are used to make the resources of the computers to be available  to the user of the application software. The maintenance tools include antivirus tool kit and some utility software to make the system run in good condition. Anti Virus tool kit is software to fight the virus and protect the stem from bugs and troubles. These bugs and troubles are created by the virus, the software to disturb the maintenance and running of the computer and software in good condition.

Application Software:

Application software is that which is used by the user for writing his own applications. It is sub-divide into 3 categories

a) Application Programs

b) Programming Languages

c) Utilities

a) Application Programs

An Application program is a software designed for a specific type of applications like documentation, graphics etc.,

b) Programming Languages

programming language is a language which is used to write some programs to do a specific job. It  is universal in nature.

c) Utilities

Utilities are one type of software which give support for the user in using other type of Application Software.

Read More

What is USB Flash Drive and How it work

A USB flash drive is a compact and easy to use device that works like a portable hard drive. Typically USB flash drives are removable and the data is erasable/rewritable, they can hold up to 128 MB to 16 GB of information. It can easily be slip into your pocket, look like keychain. It plugs into your computer USB port. There are different types of USB flash drives available in different storage capacities and this devices goes by many names like – Jump Drive, Pocket drive, Pen drive, Thumb drive, Flash drive etc.,

Read More

What is CD-ROM and Types of Compact Disks

CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk Read Only Memory is a type of secondary storage or optical disc that users can read only but not write or erase. Philips and Sony companies invented Compact Disc in year 1982. CD-Rom is a WORM (Write Once Read Many times) device.  Typically they can store up to 600-700 MB of data or 70 minutes of audio, also store video, data, and text. The diameter of a Compact Disk is 4.7 inches and its thickness is 0.047 inches. A single Compact Disk equal to : 1500 - 5.25-inch floppy disks, 450 - 3.5 inch floppy disks and 274,000 pages of text.


Types of Compact Disks :

(1)  CD-ROM     :  
Compact Disk Read Only Memory (Write Once Read Many times)

(2)  CD-R       :  
(Compact Disc-Recordable) WORM disks for Well known technology

(3)  CD-RW      :  
(Compact Disc-ReWritable) Rewritable and erasable.

(4)  CD Extra    :  
For Multimedia purpose. Developed by Sony, Philips and Microsoft.

(5)  CD-DA      :  
(Compact Disk Digital Audio) Audio CD, Digital Audio Developed by Philips and Sony companies.

(6)  Photo CD      :  
Developed by Kodak and Philips companies.

(7)  Video CD      :  
Can hold approximately 70 minutes of recorded video.

Read More

What is Zip Disk and How it work

Zip disk is a medium portable removable disk introduced by Iomega Corporation in late 1994.  It look like a floppy disk but they store more data and holds minimum 100 to maximum 750 Mega bytes of information. Zip disks come in three different sizes, they are 100MB, 250MB and 750MB of capacities. You can save large amount of data such as documents, images and other files. They are very expensive when compared to coast of other storage devices.

Read More

What is Floppy Disk and Types of Floppy Disks

Also known as a Diskette. The most common magnetic data storage medium used on computer is a floppy disk. These are made of an ultra thin, circular, Mylar plastic and coated with magnetic material. Floppy disks are commonly used as secondary storage and backup memory in a personal computer. These disks are very thin and flexible. It is cheaper than any other storage devices and portable. Data can be written (or) erased on a floppy disk.  In 1971, IBM introduced the 8 inch floppy disk, 1976, 5.25 (5¼) inch floppy disk were introduced by Shugart Associates and another most popular 3.5 (3½) inch floppy disk introduced Sony in 1980. The 3.5 (3½) inch floppy used in the ’A’ drive and the older 5.25 (5¼) inch floppy used in the ’B’ drive. The capacity of a 5.25 (5¼) inch floppy typically holds 1.2 mega bytes of information and each 3.5 (3½) inch floppy holds 1.44 megabytes of information. The advantage of floppy disks is that they can be removed from the computer and the data taken to another computer system.

There are three types of Floppy Disks available they are :

3.5" Floppy Disk Capacity 1.44 Mb (Megabytes) Introduced : Sony (1980)

5.25" Floppy Disk Capacity 1.2 Mb (Megabytes) Introduced : Shugart (1976)

8.0" Floppy Disk Capacity 100 Kb (Kilobytes) Introduced : IBM (1971)

Read More

Computer Cabinet

A cabinet  also known as a computer case, computer chassis, tower or a simply word “system unit”. The cabinet generally metal or plastic container that holds  all  the electrical  components, and protects the components of the computer like the Motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Hard  Disk, RAM chips, Floppy drive and CD- ROM drive etc.,

Read More

What is Power Supply Unit (PSU) - Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS)

A power supply unit or PSU is also known as Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) is an internal hardware component used to provide power for the computer system. It converts the alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) use by the computer Components. The power  supply unit also regulates the voltage in a computer. The power supply converts 110-115 (or) 220-230 volt alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) that is required for computer components to work properly. Typically the most basic computer systems are Suitable for 250 to 300 watt power supply.

Read More