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What is computer

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates data, capable of storing, retrieving, and processing information. It consists of hardware (physical components) and software (instructions for hardware), and comes in various types including desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, smartphones, wearables, game consoles, and smart TVs. Personal computers are primarily categorized into PCs, which typically run Windows, and Macs, which run Mac OS X.

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7 views8 pages

What is computer

A computer is an electronic device that manipulates data, capable of storing, retrieving, and processing information. It consists of hardware (physical components) and software (instructions for hardware), and comes in various types including desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, smartphones, wearables, game consoles, and smart TVs. Personal computers are primarily categorized into PCs, which typically run Windows, and Macs, which run Mac OS X.

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centnd1v1
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Computer Basics: What is a Computer?

What is a computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data.
It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already
know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play
games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or create
spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
Watch the video below to learn about different types of computers.
Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.

Hardware vs. software


Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two
things all computers have in common: hardware and software.
●​ Hardware is any part of your computer that has a
physical structure, such as the keyboard or mouse. It
also includes all of the computer's internal parts, which
you can see in the image below.​
●​ Software is any set of instructions that tells the
hardware what to do and how to do it. Examples of
software include web browsers, games, and word
processors.​
​

Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and


software. For example, right now you may be viewing this lesson in a web
browser (software) and using your mouse (hardware) to click from page
to page. As you learn about different types of computers, ask yourself
about the differences in their hardware. As you progress through this
tutorial, you'll see that different types of computers also often use different
types of software.

What are the different types of


computers?
When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal
computer such as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in
many shapes and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our
daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the
store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.
Desktop computers

Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school.


Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a desk, and they're
typically made up of a few different parts, including the computer case,
monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Laptop computers
The second type of computer you may be familiar with is a laptop
computer, commonly called a laptop. Laptops are battery-powered
computers that are more portable than desktops, allowing you to use
them almost anywhere.

Tablet computers

Tablet computers—or tablets—are handheld computers that are even


more portable than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and mouse, tablets use
a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. The iPad is an
example of a tablet.

Servers
A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a
network. For example, whenever you use the Internet, you're looking at
something that's stored on a server. Many businesses also use local file
servers to store and share files internally.

Other types of computers


Many of today's electronics are basically specialized computers, though
we don't always think of them that way. Here are a few common examples.
●​ Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of things
computers can do, including browsing the Internet and
playing games. They are often called smartphones.
●​ Wearables: Wearable technology is a general term for a
group of devices—including fitness trackers and
smartwatches—that are designed to be worn throughout
the day. These devices are often called wearables for
short.
●​ Game consoles: A game console is a specialized type
of computer that is used for playing video games on your
TV.
●​ TVs: Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that
let you access various types of online content. For
example, you can stream video from the Internet directly
onto your TV.

PCs and Macs


Personal computers come in two main styles: PC and Mac. Both are fully
functional, but they have a different look and feel, and many people prefer
one or the other.

PCs
This type of computer began with the original IBM PC that was introduced
in 1981. Other companies began creating similar computers, which were
called IBM PC Compatible (often shortened to PC). Today, this is the
most common type of personal computer, and it typically includes the
Microsoft Windows operating system.

Macs

The Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984, and it was the first
widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface, or GUI
(pronounced gooey). All Macs are made by one company (Apple), and
they almost always use the Mac OS X operating system.
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