By: Colon Bolden
Once you have unpacked your Personal Computer
and set up the different hardware elements, it's worth taking the time
to get to know exactly what each part does. All personal computers have
the same basic elements. Knowing how they fit together and operate as a
unit, and understanding where you fit into the picture will help you and
your family to get the most out of home computing.
Your computer is simply a tool that, given the correct instructions
and data, will make your day to day life easier and more enjoyable. You
enter instructions and information into the computer via the mouse and
keyboard. The results can be seen on your monitor's screen and printed
out on your printer.
The most important part of the computer, the system unit, links all
these elements together. Whatever make of computer you have, it will
have these same key components that allow you to use it. Although most
computers look similar, there are variations between models, so always
check instructions in the computer manual to make sure you're using your
computer correctly. Here is how you can get the most out of your PC by
understanding the purpose of each part:
- Monitor. Your monitor is home to the computer screen, which shows
you what your computer is doing. The screen comes in different sizes
and, in the interest of preventing eyestrain, the bigger the better.
Screens are measured in inches, diagonally. A 15 inch screen or larger
is the ideal choice. Your monitor do have their own power switch.
- Mouse. Your mouse is use to select items on screen and move the
text cursor. A text cursor is a flashing line that identifies where new
text appears. Basically you move the mouse around with your hand and a
mouse pointer moves around on the screen, allowing you to select menus
and click on commands.
- Keyboard. You use the keyboard for typing in data and commands and
has the familiar typewriter keys. On the right is a separate numeric
keypad, plus navigation keys with arrows that help you to move around
the screen. There is also a series of function keys along the top that
allow you to give special commands.
- Printer. You need a printer to put your work on paper. The two main
types are laser and inkjet. Laser printers produce better quality
print-outs and have the fastest printing speeds. However, they tend to
be more expensive, especially color models. Inkjet printers are cheaper
and most can print in color. Unless you are printing hundreds of pages a
week, an inkjet printer will almost certainly meet you needs.
- The system unit. This is where all the cables plug in. Whether your
system unit is on its side like a desktop unit or its end like a tower
unit, it acts in the same way. The system unit also contains disk drives
like a floppy disk drive and a CD Rom drive.
In summary, your hardware is the actual body of the computer system,
comprising the system unit and all the elements that you can plug into
it. It also determines which type of operating system you can use.
