Essential Computer Hardware: The Illustrated Guide to Understanding Computer Hardware

✍ Scribed by Kevin Wilson

• Year: 2018
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 167
• Series: Computer Essentials
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Bits, bytes, RAM, CPUs, hard drives and DVD drives. Master the geeky acronyms and simplify computer hardware & terminology with ease.
Computer hardware with all its technical jargon can be baffling, even for the moderately experienced user. This book cuts through the jargon to show that computer hardware isn’t so complicated after all and can be easily understood by anyone
This book is great for beginners, a basic computing class, or someone looking to buy a computer
Step-by-step, visual approach to help you quickly decode the jargon
Plenty of full color, illustrated screenshots and photographs to help you
Presented in an easy and simple to read format
This book looks at
Understanding computer specifications often displayed in computer stores and online
General hardware concepts and what’s inside the case
Hardware components: CPUs, RAM, Hard Drives, Portable Drives, video cards and memory cards
Data Storage: bits, bytes, kilo bytes, mega bytes, giga bytes and tera bytes
Computer ports: VGA, HDMI, DVI, USB 2&3, FireWire, RJ45 ethernet, eSATA and more
Different types of computer: desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablets, hybrids and supercomputers
Computer peripherals: laser and inkjet printers Types of computer networks,
The internet, email, the cloud and the world-wide web
and more..
Techniques are illustrated step-by-step using photography and screen prints throughout, together with concise, easy to follow text from an established expert in the field, provide a comprehensive guide to computer systems
If you want to decode the jargon quickly and easily, this is the guide you need

✦ Table of Contents

Essential Computer Hardware......Page 3
About the Author......Page 4
Table of Contents......Page 5
General Concepts......Page 9
Types of Hardware......Page 10
Internal Hardware......Page 11
Basic Peripherals......Page 12
Basic Operating Systems......Page 13
Hardware Components......Page 14
Memory (RAM)......Page 15
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)......Page 20
Solid State Drive (SSD)......Page 22
CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive......Page 23
Memory Cards......Page 25
USB Flash Drives......Page 27
External Hard Disk......Page 29
NAS Drives......Page 30
Personal Cloud......Page 31
Storage Units......Page 37
CPU / Processor......Page 38
Sound Card......Page 40
Video Card......Page 41
Expansion Slots......Page 42
Inside the Case......Page 43
Computer Peripherals......Page 46
Inkjet Printer......Page 47
Laser Printer......Page 49
USB......Page 52
Ethernet......Page 54
FireWire......Page 55
ThunderBolt......Page 56
eSATA......Page 57
DVI......Page 58
HDMI......Page 59
VGA......Page 60
Component Video......Page 61
Composite Video......Page 62
1/8” (3.5mm) Phono Jack......Page 63
1/4” (6.35mm) Phono Jack......Page 64
3 Pin XLR......Page 65
RCA Audio......Page 66
S/PDIF Optical Audio......Page 67
Types of Computer......Page 68
Desktop Computer......Page 69
Desktop: All-in-one......Page 70
Laptop......Page 72
Netbook......Page 73
Chrome Book......Page 74
Tablet Computers......Page 75
Hybrids......Page 77
Mainframe Computer......Page 79
Super Computer......Page 81
Understanding Hardware Specifications......Page 82
So Many Machines......Page 83
Mac or PC?......Page 84
Decoding Computer Specs......Page 86
Printer Specs......Page 87
The Internet......Page 89
DSL......Page 90
Fibre Optic......Page 91
Cable......Page 94
Satellite......Page 95
3G/4G......Page 96
WiFi......Page 97
Dual Band or Single Band?......Page 98
WiFi Extenders......Page 99
Wireless Standards......Page 100
Wireless Security......Page 101
Understanding Router Specifications......Page 102
Data Transfer Rates......Page 105
Bytes and Bits......Page 106
Computer Networks......Page 108
Local Area Networks (LANs)......Page 109
Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)......Page 111
Wide Area Networks (WANs)......Page 112
Peer-to-peer Network......Page 113
Client-server Network......Page 114
Ethernet......Page 115
Cellular Network......Page 117
Bluetooth......Page 118
Cloud Computing and the Web......Page 119
Computer Software......Page 122
The Operating System......Page 123
Apps & Applications......Page 126
Windows File Management......Page 128
Creating Folders......Page 131
Moving Files......Page 132
Copying Files......Page 133
Compress Files......Page 135
Searching for Files......Page 137
System Maintenance......Page 139
Anti-Virus Software......Page 140
Windows Defender......Page 141
Avast......Page 142
AVG......Page 143
Backing Up your Files......Page 144
Restoring Files......Page 147
Windows Update......Page 149
Disk De-fragmentation......Page 151
Disk Clean-Up......Page 154
Start-Up Programs......Page 156
Remove Programs and Apps......Page 157
System Recovery......Page 161
Advanced Start up......Page 164
Create a Recovery Drive......Page 165