Computers Are Your FutureSlide 2Get Started the Right WayChoose the Right HardwareProcessorsMemoryHard DisksInternal and/or External DrivesMonitors & Video CardsSpeakers and Sound CardsModemsNetwork CardsKeyboards and MiceUninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)Notebook or Desktop?Mac or PC?Get the Right PrinterWise Shopping TipsTop-of-the-Line or Bargain Bin Special?Local Stores vs. Mail-Order/Online CompaniesBuying Used or RefurbishedName-Brand vs. Generic PCsUpgrading Your SystemAdding Expansion Cards and Upgrading MemoryCaring for Your Computer SystemSlide 26Computers Are Your Future© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc.© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 2Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Computers Are Your FutureSpotlight 6Buying and Upgrading Your Computer System© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 3Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 The Right WayDetermine your needsMake sure the computer will run the software you plan to useGet Started the Right WayThe Wrong WayBuying a computer based on price only Being swayed by salespeople or advertisements© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 4Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Choose the Right HardwareUnderstanding the following hardware components will help in making a good decision about which computer to buy:ProcessorsMemoryHard disksInternal and/or external drivesMonitors and video cardsSpeakers and sound cardsModems and network cardsKeyboards and miceUninterruptible power supply© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 5Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 ProcessorsProcessors are the most important componentThe higher the clock speed, the faster the computerProcessors without L2 cache will run slower than those with L2 cache Recommendation – 1GHz or faster with L2 cache© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 6Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 MemoryConsider how much RAM will be needed and whether the system has cache memoryWindows and Mac operating systems’ minimum requirement is 64 MBThe different types of RAM include:Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM) Rambus DRAM (RDRAM)Recommendation – 256 MB or more of RAM© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 7Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Hard DisksRule of thumb – Use no more than 25% of the hard disk space for the operating system and applicationsRecommendation – 20 GB or more hard driveRotation speed (RPM) contributes to the speed of the systemRecommendation – 7200 RPM or faster© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 8Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Internal and/or External DrivesCD-ROM drives operate at speeds up to 70x (70 times the original CD-ROM speed) DVD drives can be used for CD-ROM or DVD discsCD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and DVD-RAM drives can read and write dataRecommendation – CD-R/RW or DVD-R/RW driveZip drives can store up to 750 MB of data on removable disksSony’s HiFD removable storage drives can hold 200+ MB of data© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 9Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Monitors & Video CardsVideo cards determine the quality and resolution of the displayRecommendation – Video card with 8 MB or more of Video RAMA monitor’s size is measured diagonally from one corner of the screen to the otherRecommendation – 17” or larger SVGA monitor that supports a resolution of 1024x768 and higherThe monitor’s dot pitch affects the crispness of the imageRecommendation– Dot pitch of .28 mm or smaller© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 10Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Speakers and Sound CardsSound cards and speakers are needed to hear soundsA sound card should have wavetable synthesisFor richer sounds, good quality speakers with a subwoofer are needed© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 11Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 ModemsMost computers come with a modem built into the systemToday’s standard modem is 56 Kbps V.90Internal External© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 12Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Network CardsNetwork interface cards (NIC) are used to connect a computer to a network10/100 mps Ethernet card is today’s standard© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 13Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Keyboards and MiceMost computers come with a standard keyboard and PS/2 mouseUpgrades can be made for ergonomic or wireless keyboards and mice© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 14Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)A UPS provides power to the computer for a short period of time if the power is lostThey provide enough time to save work and shut down the computer properly© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 15Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Notebooks DesktopsPros Cons Pros ConsDisplay quality  Processor speed  Mobility  Prolonged use  Not easily stolen  Price  Notebook or Desktop?© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 16Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Mac or PC?MacRelies on the mouse for program controlExcellent for publishing, music, graphics, illustrations, and Web site designMore expensive than PCsLess software availableOnly Apple Inc. produces MacsPCMore keyboard shortcut keys than a MacExcellent for business and engineering purposesCheaper than MacsMore software availableProduced by many companiesCan run Linux operating system on the same drive BothEasy-to-use GUI interfaceMajor applications available – Word processing, spreadsheets, databases, Web browsing, and e-mail© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 17Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Color inkjetMonochrome laserColor laser MultifunctionPrinter cost $50 - $400 $200 - $1500 $800 - $3300 $130 - $700Ink cost per cartridge$5 - $40 $15 - $300$30 - $200 per colorSame as inkjet and laserSpeed – Pages per minute1 -17 15 - 35 15 - 35Same as inkjet and laserFigures are approximate. Based on several printers in each category. Source of information: www.tigerdirect.comGet the Right Printer© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc Slide 18Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 6 Wise Shopping TipsBrowse Web sites to comparison shop before buyingNo salesperson to sway your opinionSaves time and money (travel time and transportation costs)Read reviews about computer products in magazines and onlineAsk reliable, knowledgeable people about computer productsGet quotes of several systems before buyingKnow what