UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMPUTER TWO BASIC TYPES OF COMPUTERS

UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMPUTER

TWO BASIC TYPES OF COMPUTERS Personal Computers • Called PC’s. • This type of computer is made by several different companies. • The computers we will use in class. Macintosh • Often called Macs and Apples. • These computers look different on the inside and outside but they can do basically the same things.

OPERATING SYSTEMS (OS) • The operating system tells everything in your computer how to act. • It can change the way things appear on your screen or desktop. Windows is the most common operating system for PCs.

HARDWARE Hardware is the name for the physical parts of your computer. • CPU • Monitor • Keyboard • Mouse • Speakers • Printer

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT • This is what makes a computer work. It is like the brain of the computer. • Contains the disk drives and hard drive. • This is where you will find the power switch to turn the computer on and off. • Also called CPU, Computer, and Processor.

MOUSE • • • Cursor Click Double-Click and Drag Right-Click

KEYBOARD • • • 10 -Key pad Arrow Keys Caps Lock Shift Back Space/ Delete Enter or Return

DISKS • 3. 5 Floppy Disk – We will use these in class. – Like a folder in your pocket • CD ROM Disk – Just like a music CD. – Software is purchased on CD. – Today, some CD’s can be used to save information, but the computer has to have a CD burners.

Desktop • The first screen you see when the computer starts up • The desktop has several icons that can be used as short-cuts to a program or file.

DRIVES • Drives are different places on your computer to save information. • 3 ½ Floppy A: is the disk drive • C: is the hard drive

Folders and Documents • Folders help organize things you save on the computer. • Each thing you save is called a document or a file.

SOFTWARE • Software is information or instructions for your computer. • Software needs to be installed on a computer, usually from a CD. Some examples of software programs that we will use in class: – – – Word Excel Power. Point Publisher Internet Explorer Mavis Beacon

MICROSOFT WORD • Word Processor • Like a typewriter except you can edit, copy, move and delete text. You can check your spelling and grammar, too. • Use for letters and documents which are mainly words.

MICROSOFT EXCEL • Spreadsheet • Use with documents which are mainly numbers or graphs. • Adds and multiplies numbers.

MICROSOFT POWERPOINT • Presentation software. • Use for posters and presentations. • This presentation was created on Power. Point!

MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER • This software allows you to use the internet. • When you use the internet you can send and receive e-mail.

MAVIS BEACON • Mavis Beacon is a learning software. • Mavis Beacon teaches typing and 10 -Key. • You can use this software to learn to type.