What is a Computer? 5.

Tablet PC – A mobile computer without a

A computer is defined as a device that accepts
input, processes data, stores data and produces output. It
consists of input, storage and output devices.
Computer Categories
1. Mainframe – is a large and expensive computer that
is capable of simultaneously processing data for
hundreds or thousands of users. (1940s)
2. Supercomputer – one of the fastest computers in the
world. (1960s)
3. Handheld Computers – is a very small computer –
usually weighing less than a pound – that you can
hold comfortably in your hand or carry in a jacket
pocket.
4. Servers – A server is a powerful computer that acts
as a central resource for a number of other
computers that are connected to it.
keyboard. It has monitor that forms one side of
the device. The monitor is touch sensitive and
can present a virtual keyboard when input is
required.
6. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) – is a
handheld device designed to help people
organize their lives while on the move. While the
original PDAs were somewhat limited to storing
addresses, phone numbers, calendar
appointments, and task lists, modern PDAs
often work as a cell phone and fax, provide
internet connectivity, and much more.
How a computer works?
input process output

5. Personal Computers (Microcomputer) – are the

storage
computers typically used by a single user, for use in
the office or home.
Hardware
Personal Computer
Input devices
Types of PC
1. Mouse – device used to point to and select
1. Desktop – A desktop is by far the most common type
items on your computer screen.
of computer. Most desktop systems come with a
separate computer case, monitor, keyboard, and
2. Keyboard – is used mainly for typing text into
mouse. On older desktops, the computer case lies flat
your computer. Like the keyboard on a
on the desk with the monitor sitting on top.
typewriter, it has keys for letters and numbers,
but it also has special keys.
2. Laptop – A laptop integrates most of the typical
components of a desktop computer, including a
3. Webcam – is the loosely used term for any
display, a keyboard, a pointing device (a touchpad
camera that generates images that can be
also known as a trackpad, and/or a pointing stick),
accessed by and displayed on the world wide
speakers, and often including battery, into a single
web through a server. A webcam is essentially
small and light unit.
just a camera that is connected to a computer.

4. Scanner – a computer peripheral or a stand –

3. Notebook – A notebook is a mobile computer with a
alone device that converts a document, film,
full sized keyboard and a flip up monitor. It does not
graphic, or photograph to a digital image,
have a space for built in optical or floppy disk drives
manipulable through an appropriate software.
but instead provides communication ports so that an
external drive can be connected. This allows a
5. Microphone – device that converts sound
notebook to be much thinner than a laptop.
waves into analogous electrical waves.
4. Netbook – A netbook or mini PC is a mobile
6. Graphic tablet – is a computer input device
computer with a keyboard smaller than full size (some
that enables a user to hand-draw images and
are less than half the size) and a flip up monitor. It
graphics, similar to the way a person draws
also does not have space for built in storage drives
images with a pencil and paper. These tablets
but does provide ports for connecting an external
may also be used to capture data or
drive. Netbook can have a screen up to 10 inches
handwritten signatures.
from corner to corner.
 Output devices
1. Speaker – device connected to a comnputer’s
sound card that outputs sounds generated by the
computer.
2. Printer – is a computer peripheral device that
produces a hard copy (permanent human-
readable text and/or graphics, usually on paper)
from data stored in a computer connected to it.
Blu-ray discs are common types of optical media
which can be read and recorded by such drives.
4. Flash drive – is a data storage device that includes
flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial
Bus (USB) interface. USB flash drives are typically
removable and rewritable, and physically much
smaller than floppy disk.
Parts of Personal Computer

a. Inkjet Printer
b. Dot Matrix Printer
c. Laser Printer

3. Monitor – a monitor displays information in visual

form, using text and graphics. The portion of the
monitor that displays information is called the
screen.

a. LCD – Liquid Crystal Display

b. LED – Light Emitting Diode
c. CRT – Cathode Ray Tube

4. Plotter – The plotter was the first computer

output device that could print graphics as well as
accommodate full-size engineering and
architectural drawings.

Processing Ronn Deano M. Ramos

Tayabas Western Academy
1. Random Access Memory (RAM) – is a form of Senior High School Dept.
computer data storage. A random-access device
allows stored data to be accessed in very nearly the
same amount of time for any storage location, so
data can be accessed quickly in any random order.

2. Central Processing Unit (CPU) –is the hardware

within a computer program by performing the basic
arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of
the system.

Storage Devices

1. Hard disk drive (HDD) – computer’s primary means

of storage, holding almost all of your programs and
files. The hard disk drive is normally located inside
the system unit.

2. Floppy Disk Drive (FDD) – is a computer disk drive

that enables a user to save data to removable
diskettes.

3. Optical Disk Drive (ODD) – is a disk drive that uses

laser light or electromagnetic waves within or near
the visible light spectrum as part of the process of
reading or writing data to or from optical discs. Some
drives can only read from discs, but recent drives
are commonly both readers and recorders, also
called burners or writers. Compact discs, DVDs, and