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Behind the Files: History of MP3
Behind the Files: History of MP3 by Gabriel Nijmeh In just over a couple of years, the MP3 audio file format has caused a big stir and captured the minds and hard drives of millions of people worldwide. MP3, short for Moving Picture Experts Group,...
Combined Hot Multimedia Practical Tips
In the site, http://webmonkey.wired.com/webmonkey/99/26/index1a.html?tw=multimedia Francis Preve’s article on Hot Multimedia Tips, he emphasized that, “As web designers, we don’t want to get caught flat-footed when all our favorite...
Five Tips To Buying The Best Mp3 Player On The Market
You have decided that you want -- no, you deserve -- the best MP3 player on the market. Although "best" is always subjective, there are a few things that every top-quality MP3 player should have. Use this handy guide for choosing the best MP3 player...
How the ipod has changed the way we listen to music
How the iPod has changed the way we listen to music
by Ivan Gregor
First it was the Walkman.
Then it was the Discman.
Now it's all about the iPod (bold). Apple's newest contribution to mobile music has changed, even more so than the...
M-Commerce Twice the Cash Value of E-Commerce
Do you even know what M-Commerce is?
Well you better learn fast. Predictions in Europe for M-Commerce, the second largest market behind Asia, are for a spend of €7.4 Billion in 2006 that's over $8 Billion. That's twice the predicted spend of...
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Finally... An Understandable Introduction To Computers
When you mention the word "technology," most people think
about computers. Virtually every facet of our lives has some
computerized component. The appliances in our homes have
microprocessors built into them, as do our televisions. Even
our cars have a computer. However, the computer that
everyone thinks of first is typically the personal computer,
or PC.
It is a general-purpose tool, built around a microprocessor.
A PC has many different parts such as memories, a hard disk,
a modem, etc that work together. A PC is said to be "general
purpose" because you can do many different things with it
like: you can use it to type documents, send e-mail, browse
the Web and play games.
Let us look at the main components of a typical desktop
computer.
Central processing unit (CPU): The microprocessor "brain" of
the computer system is referred to as the central processing
unit. The CPU oversees everything that a computer does.
Memory: This fast storage area is for storing data and is
connected directly to the microprocessor. That's why it is
fast. There are various types of memory in a computer
system:
Random-access memory (RAM): Used to temporarily store
information that the computer is currently working with.
Read-only memory (ROM): It refers to computer memory chips,
containing permanent or semi-permanent data that does not
change.
Basic Input/Output: Required to establish the basic
communication when the system is turned on. It is directly
connected to the motherboard.
Caching: The storing of frequently
used data in extremely
fast RAM that connects directly to the CPU.
Virtual memory: Used to temporarily store data and swap it
in and out of the RAM.
Motherboard: This is the main board in the computer that has
the processor, the RAM, the BIOS ROM, the timing and
control, the interrupt and direct memory access hardware and
the keyboard interface on it which are connected to it
through the secondary connection.
Soundcard: this device attaches to the motherboard with a
socket called PCI, which allows the computer to play CD's or
music files, or MP3 CD's. All soundcards have speakers and
connectors. The quality of sound depends upon the quality
of the card.
Hard drive: This is the main storage device of a computer.
It stores information including the OS that allows you to
access it all. Most common OS for PCs is Microsoft Windows.
And Apple computers use the Macintosh operating system.
Other drives: Most computers are also complete with floppy
disk and CD drives. These vary from system to system,
however all work in same way. They read information stored
on disks. These are necessary for maintaining and updating
the computer's software and operating system.
That's the components that create the average computer.
Although there are many different systems, and configura-
tions, it is difficult to imagine our lives without them.
About the Author
Roger A. Pendey is founder of All About Computers an excellent resource site dedicated to information about computers.
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