CHAPTER 1A

INTRODUCING COMPUTER SYSTEMS

 THE COMPUTER DEFINED
 A computer is a -
• Digital Electronic device
• stores and manipulates information
• Converts data into information

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 BASIC TYPE OF COMPUTERS
Digital computers
Two digits combine to make
data (0, 1)
Example modern computers

Analog computers
Data is represented with a
range of values
Example: Slide rule

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 ANALOG VERSUS DIGITAL COMPARISON CHART
Point Analog Computers Digital Computers

Analog signal is a continuous Digital signals are discrete time

1. Signal signal which represents physical signals generated by digital
measurements. modulation.
Denoted by sine waves Denoted by square waves

2. Waves

Uses continuous range of values Uses discrete or discontinuous values

3. Representation
to represent information. to represent information.

Human voice in air, analog Computers, CDs, DVDs, and other

4. Example
electronic devices. digital electronic devices.
Samples analog waveforms into a
Analog technology records
5. Technology limited set of numbers and records
waveforms as they are.
them.

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 ANALOG VERSUS DIGITAL COMPARISON CHART

Point Analog Computers Digital Computers

Subjected to deterioration by noise Can be noise-immune without

6. Data
during transmission and deterioration during transmission and
transmissions
write/read cycle. write/read cycle.
7. Response to More likely to get affected reducing Less affected since noise response are
Noise accuracy analog in nature
Digital hardware is flexible in
8. Flexibility Analog hardware is not flexible.
implementation.
Can be used in analog devices only.
Best suited for Computing and digital
9. Uses Best suited for audio and video
electronics.
transmission.
10. Applications Thermometer PCs, PDAs

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 COMPUTER CATEGORIES

Computers can be categorized in several ways e.g.

• By power – speed, tasks
• By price
• By users
 for individuals,
 for Organizations

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE

1. Desktop Computers
2. Mobile/Portable Computers
a. Notebook computers (Laptop)
b. Ultrabooks
c. Netbook computers
d. Tablet computers
e. Handheld computers/PDA/Organizers
f. Smart phones
g. Phablet
3. Workstations

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE - Desktop

• Desktop / Tower computers

• The most common type of computer
• Sits on the desk or floor
• Performs a variety of tasks
• CPU
• Intel: Celeron, Dual Core, Ci3, Ci5, Ci7
• AMD: Athlon, Phenom, Sempron

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE - NOTEBOOK

• Notebook computers (Mobile Computers)

• Small portable computers
• Weighs between 3 and 8 pounds
• About 8 ½ by 11 inches
• Typically as powerful as a desktop
• Can include a docking station

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE - Ultrabook

• More portable –
• slim, light and thin, and elegant.
• Screens size: 11.6” - 13.3”
• 128GB – 256GB SSD
• Strong batteries (6 – 8 hrs)

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Computers For Individual Use - Netbook
• Netbooks are a category of
• Reduced computing power,
• small,
• lightweight, 
• inexpensive laptop computers.

• Omitted certain features (e.g., the optical drive),

• Screen size: from 5“ - 12"

• A typical weight is 1 kg (2–3 pounds).

• CPU used:
• Intel: Atom Processor
• VIA Technologies: C7,
C7 Nano processor
Nano
• AMD: Fusion processor 
COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE – Tablet PC

• Tablet computers
• Input is through
a pen called “stylus”
• Run specialized versions of
office products

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE - Handheld

• Handheld computers
– Very small computers
– Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
– Note taking or contact management
– Data can synchronize with a desktop

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE - Smartphone

• Smart phones
• Hybrid of cell phone and PDA
• Web surfing, e-mail access
• Customized operating systems. Android, IOS etc.

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COMPUTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE - Phablet

• Bigger than a smartphone, but not large enough to be a tablet

• Screen size - 5″ to 7″ region.
Computers For Individual Use - Workstation

• Workstations
• Specialized, single-user computers with many features
of a personal computer but with processing power of a
minicomputer.
• Optimized for science or graphics/animations
• Well-known makers of Workstations have been Sun
Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Dell, Silicon
Graphic.
• CPU
• Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron, Sun: SPARC, IBM: POWER

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COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

 Network servers
 Mainframe computers
 Minicomputers
 Supercomputers

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 COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS – NETWORK
SERVERS

• Network servers
• Usually a powerful personal computer with special software and
equipment the enable it to function as the primary computer in the
network.
Centralized Server
• Often simply a powerful desktop with special software and
equipment.
• Specially dedicated CPU manufactures for servers
• Intel: Xeon. AMD: Opteron, Sun: SPARC, IBM: POWER

Multiple servers could be:

• Server farms / Clusters
• Blade servers / Rack mounting

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Computers For Organizations - Mainframes

• Mainframes
• Used in large
organizations
• Handle thousands
of users
• Users access through a
terminal
• The principal makers of
Mainframes have been
IBM (60%), Fujitsu,
Unisys, AT&T.

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 COMPUTERS FOR ORGANIZATIONS -
MAINFRAMES
Three types of terminal
• Dumb terminal
• Vending Machine
• Intelligent terminal
• Personal computers

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Computers For Organizations – Mini / Midrange

• Minicomputers
• Called midrange computers
• Power between mainframe and desktop
• Handle hundreds of users
• Used in smaller organizations
• Users access through a terminal

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Computers For Organizations - Supercomputers

• Supercomputers
• The most powerful computers made
• Handle large and complex calculations
• Process trillions of operations per
second
• Found in research organizations e.g.
forecasting global weather pattern,
simulation & analyzing nuclear fission
& fusion reaction, Human Genome
project.
• Makers of Supercomputers include
Cray, Fujitsu, Intel
Supercomputers, NEC.

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CHAPTER 1A
END OF CHAPTER