Summary Personal Computers Notes

Personal Computers

E-commerce (online shopping)
Evolution of computers:
 First Gen - 1940s-50s created to solve problems and examine possibilities.
 Second Gen - 1955-1969, the first transistor computer.
 First Gen of Microcomputers – 1971-76 used by engineers who understood the
code.
 Second Gen of Microcomputers – 1977 – Present introduced gaming pcs.
 Graphical user inter face or GUI made computing accessible for everyone.
Components of a computer:
 Hard drive
 Motherboard
 RAM (Random access Memory)
 PSU ( Power Supply Unit)
 Sound Card
 Graphics card
 CPU (central Processing Unit)
 Video card
External components:
 Printer
 Disk Drive
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Scanner
 Speakers
 Gaming controllers
 Monitors
The use of computers has changed, originally computers were used to solve problems and
crack codes but when personal computers came out in the 70s, companies saw games as a
new selling point to machines.
1990s personal computers became more accessible within the work place.
Buying a computer requires you to think about:
 What is the purpose of the computer?
o What are you going to use the computer for? Gaming requires a higher
specification. Emailing and writing do not.
 How much are you going to spend?
o Video editing, Gaming or Graphic design, the computer will be more money.
 What software will you need?
o Windows 365? Adobe suite?
 Where is the computer going your house?
o Is there enough room for the PC?