In this modern age of computers, it is important to have at least some understanding of basic computer hardware and software. Granted, it’s not necessary to have a complete and complete understanding of what makes your computer tick, it might be wise to understand some of the concepts. So, let’s take a look “under the hood”, shall we?
First up on our journey is the hardware side. A computer consists of many different parts, all of which must be in good working order to function properly. But this is the nice thing about modern computers: you don’t really need to know what all those little chips, resistors, etc. are. actually do. In fact, just a basic understanding of computer hardware can allow you to fix a multitude of problems that may arise. Computers these days are divided into several main components, some of which can even be replaced without great difficulty.
First is the most important part of your computer: the motherboard. This is the “brain” of your computer. Also on the motherboard you can find your RAM (which stands for “Random Access Memory”). These are long “sticks” basically held on by two plastic clips. If you’re having problems with your computer, you can try replacing these modules with new drives to see if that fixes things. Or if you want that new PC game to run a little faster, adding more RAM to your computer might do the trick.
You might also find a video card attached to your motherboard – this is the device that handles the complex math required to create 3D environments in computer games. Usually, if you’re not a gamer, you don’t have to worry about this one.
Another important piece of hardware is called the Hard Drive – this is what stores all your Word documents, programs, etc. Upgrading this device by replacing it or adding an additional one allows you to store more files.
Now we can turn our attention to the software side. Some basic software you might consider installing is an office suite (MS Office, for example, or the free OpenOffice.org) that allows you to create professional Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and even track financial information (your budget, for example). example). ).
Of course, another important software program is an Internet browser (which allows you to “surf” the web). If you have a Windows PC, then you should have Internet Explorer (which comes pre-installed) or feel free to take a look at FireFox, another free web browser (which also works on Mac).
So there you have it: a nice short guide to basic computer hardware and software. However, this article should not be the end of your journey! If you’re still interested in the topics presented in this article, a simple Google search (using your favorite Internet browser!) should answer almost any question you have.