Basic Computer System

A basic computer configuration consists of the Monitor, Main System Unit, Keyboard and a Mouse

Initially; Mouse was not part of basic computer configuration, but as the use of Windows and other graphical interfaces increased, mouse has become a part of the basic computer configuration.

Main System Unit

It contains all major components of the computer. It contains the CPU (Central Processing Unit, Brain of the Computer), and the RAM (Random Access Memory, Memory of the computer), on an electric circuit board known as the "Motherboard".

It also Contains storage devices such as a floppy drive, hard drive etc. Power supply which provides clean electrical power to the computer is also located inside the system unit.

The front side and the back side of the system unit has many indicators, switches and connectors for various purpose, which we shall explain later.

The Monitor

It is the most common output device used with a computer. This is a TV like device That display information send to it by computer. A monitor can display text, as ell as graphic images in multicolour or single colour, based on whether the monitor being used is a color  monitor or a monochrome (single color) monitor.

Monitor or the VDU (Visual Display Unit) is television like output device. It is used to show the result of processing done by computer. Monitor can be used to show text, numbers, or graphic images such as a chart, graphs, figures etc.

The Monitor is available in many different sizes. Size of monitor is measured diagonally, a common monitor size is 15 inch, for designing and desk top publishing  (DTP) purposes 17 inch or bigger monitor is preferred.

Keyboard 

Keyboard is a main input device for computer. Format of computer keyboard is similar to Typewriter keyboard so that a traditional typist can use the computer keyboard without any trouble.

Mouse

A mouse is basically a pointing device about the size of palm. It rolls on a small ball and has one or more buttons on the top. When the user rolls the mouse across a flat surface, the screen "cursor" (a blinking underline) or mouse pointer moves in the direction of the mouse movement.

The "Mouse" is basically made for Graphical User Interface applications, but, compared to choosing an option using the cursor control keys, using a mouse is more natural, even in the text based environment.


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Input, Process, Output

Now that we know the computer system needs hardware and software work. Let us see, how the computer does a job, such as printing of a pay slip

To print a pay slip, computers need a software, giving step by step instruction to print the pay-slip. Further, it requires a basic data, such as the employee's name, basic salary, earnings, deductions etc., required to calculate and print the pay-slip.

Using an input device, a keyboard, these basic data items are fed to the computer and are stored in some storage device such as a hard disk drive.

The input device Keyboard converts the information we type at the keyboard into proper format for the computer to be able to work with them.

The brain of the computer (CPU, Central Processing Unit inside the computer) carries out step by step instructions given by the software.

By following these instructions and using the data stored in the storage device, CPU calculate and print the pay-slip. The final information such as the gross salary, gross deduction, net salary etc. are stored in the storage device for any future reference.

Finally, software instructs the computer to output the calculated information onto some output device such as on a monitor or a printer. The output device converts these information into a proper format that we can understand.

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Hardware & Software

"Hardware" is a term used to described the physical components of the computer, any computer part that you can see or touch, such as the computer monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. is hardware. Any accessory or device connected to the computer, such as the Printer is also known as Hardware.

To make these Hardware components work, software is required. "Software" is a set of instructions, provided to the computer to carry out the job required by user.

For example, if you want the computer to print salary slip of an employee, you will require a Computer and a Printer as Hardware and at the same time you will also require a software that will instruct the computer about

• From where to get the basic information require to calculate the salary,
• How to calculate the salary and
• How to print the calculated salary slip.

Without Software the computer hardware is a like a dead machine, it will be of no use.

To further understand the hardware, software concept, let us see the hardware and software in the audio system. In the audio system, the cassette player, speakers, microphones etc. are hardware, even the audio cassette is a hardware, because you can see and touch it, but the songs recorded on the audio cassette, without which the complete hardware (audio system) will be of no use, is the software.

By hearing the recorded songs, you can realize that the software is there but, you cannot touch or see it.

In this same manner, when you get some software on a floppy disk or a CD-ROM disc,, the floppy disk or the CD-ROM itself is hardware, but the program, the set of insrtuctions stored on the floppy disk or the CD-ROM is software.

Other than the Hardware and the Software, two more wares are commonly used in the computer field, they are "firmware" and "humanware".

"Firmware" is software permanently stored inside the computer.

"Humanware", "Peopleware" or "Liveware" are the name given to the people who work with the computer, such as the computer programmers, system analyst, computer operators etc.

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What Is A Computer?

A computer is basically an electronic device which converts unorganized facts or data into some meaningful information.

This conversion is done under the control of set of instructions which is known as computer programs. People who make this program are called Computer Programmers. This chapter starts with the definition of terms Hardware & Software, two of the most common and at the same time confusing terms used in computer field.

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Introdoction

Computers have become a vital part of our life. In our day to day life, in each and every field we come across some use of computers, be it in our working place or at our home.

This chapter introduces you to the computer and the way computer works. Different parts of the computer and how they work is also covered in this chapter.

Later, we take a look at the various parts that together make the modern day computer, various input/output devices , storage devices etc.

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