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What Is A Computer

A computer is an electronic device that can store, process, and manipulate data. It uses hardware components like keyboards and internal parts, and software programs to tell the hardware what to do. There are many types of computers including desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, smartphones, wearables, game consoles, and televisions. Personal computers come in two main styles - PCs which typically use Windows, and Macs which are made by Apple and use the Mac OS operating system.

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157 views

What Is A Computer

A computer is an electronic device that can store, process, and manipulate data. It uses hardware components like keyboards and internal parts, and software programs to tell the hardware what to do. There are many types of computers including desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, smartphones, wearables, game consoles, and televisions. Personal computers come in two main styles - PCs which typically use Windows, and Macs which are made by Apple and use the Mac OS operating system.

Uploaded by

KidMonkey2299
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has


the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you
can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, 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 computers, 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 includes 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. Below, you can see an image of Microsoft PowerPoint, which is
used to create presentations.

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, computers come in many shapes and sizes,
and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw
cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a
type of computer.

Desktop computers
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 desktops,
allowing you to use them almost anywhere.

Tablet computers
Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are
even more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and
mouse, tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and
navigation. The iPad is an example of a tablet.

Servers

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 businesses also use local file servers to store and share files
internally.

Other types of computers

Many of today's electronics 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 computers


can do, including browsing the Internet and playing games. They
are often called smartphones.
 Wearables: Wearable 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 consoles: 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 computers come in two main styles: PC and Mac. Both
are fully functional, but they have a different look and feel, and
many people prefer one or the other.

PCs
This type of computer began with the original IBM PC that was
introduced in 1981. Other companies began creating similar
computers, which were called IBM PC Compatible (often shortened
to PC). Today, this is the most common type of personal
computer, and it typically includes the Microsoft
Windows operating system.

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.

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