What is a computer?
Buttons and ports
Basic parts
Inside a computer
Laptops
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  • 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.

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What is the front of a computercase?

  1. Optical Disc Drive: Often called a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, this lets your computer read CDs and DVDs.
  2. Power Button: The power button is used to power the computer on and off.
  3. Audio In/Audio Out: Many computers include audio ports on the front of the computer case that allow you to easily connect speakers, microphones, and headsets without fumbling with the back of the computer.
  4. USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port: Most desktop computers have several USB ports. These can be used to connect almost any type of device, including mice, keyboards, printers, and digital cameras. They will often appear on the front and back of the computer.
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What is a Computer case?

The computer case is the metal and plastic box that contains the main components of the computer, including the motherboard, central processing unit (CPU), and power supply. The front of the case usually has an On/Off button and one or more optical drives.

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What is a Motherboard?

The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to control the video and audio, and connections to your computer's ports (such as USB ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer.

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What is a Laptop computer?

A laptop is a personal computer that can be easily moved and used in a variety of locations. Most laptops are designed to have all of the functionality of a desktop computer, which means they can generally run the same software and open the same types of files. However, laptops also tend to be more expensive than comparable desktop computers.

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What is a Hardware?

A 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 internal parts.

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What is the back of a computercase?

The back of a computer case has connection ports that are made to fit specific devices. The placement will vary from computer to computer, and many companies have their own special connectors for specific devices. Some of the ports may be color coded to help you determine which port is used with a particular device.

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What is a Moniter?

The Monitor works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to display images and text on the screen. Most monitors have control buttons that allow you to change your monitor's display setting, and some monitors also have built-in speakers.

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What is a CPU/Processer?

The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of the computer, and its job is to carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click the mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to the CPU.

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What is a Touchpad?

  •  A touchpad also called a trackpad is a touch-sensitive pad that lets you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your finger.
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What is a Software?

A Software is any set of instructions that tell the hardware what to do and how to do it. (Examples of a software include web browsers, games, and word processors.

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What is a Microphone?

  • A microphone is a type of input device, or a device that receives information from a user. You can connect a microphone to record sound or talk with someone else over the Internet. Many laptop computers come with built-in microphones.


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What is a Keyboard?

The Keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with s computer. There are many different types of keyboards, but most are very similar and allow you to accomplish the same basic task.

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What is a RAM? (Random access memory)

RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed.

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What is a Battery?

A battery allows you to use the laptop when it's not plugged in. Whenever you plug in the laptop, the battery recharges. Another benefit of having a battery is that it can provide backup power to the laptop if the power goes out.

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What is a Desktop computer?

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

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What is a Printer?

A printer is used to print documents, photos, and anything else that appears on your screen. There are many types of printers, including inkjet, laser, and photo printers. There are even all-in-one printers, which can also scan and copy documents.


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What is a Mouse?

The mouse is another important tool for communicating with computers. Commonly known as a pointing device, it lets you point to objects on the screen, click on them, and move them.There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical. The optical mouse uses an electronic eye to detect movement and is easier to clean. The mechanical mouse uses a rolling ball to detect movement and requires regular cleaning to work properly. 

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What is a Hard drive?

The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are stored. The hard drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still saved even if you turn the computer off or unplug it.

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What is an AC adapter?

A laptop usually has a specialized power cable called an AC adapter, which is designed to be used with that specific type of laptop.

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What is a Server?

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.

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What are Peripherals?

The most basic computer setup usually includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, but you can plug many different types of devices into the extra ports on your computer. These devices are called peripherals. Let's take a look at some of the most common ones

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What is a Mouse alternative?

  • Trackball: A trackball has a ball that can rotate freely. Instead of moving the device like a mouse, you can roll the ball with your thumb to move the pointer.
  • Touchpad: A touchpad also called a trackpad is a touch-sensitive pad that lets you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your finger. Touchpads are common on laptop computers.
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What is a Power supply unit?

The power supply unit in a computer converts the power from the wall outlet to the type of power needed by the computer. It sends power through cables to the motherboard and other components.

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What are Ports?

Most laptops have the same types of ports found on desktop computers (such as USB), although they usually have fewer ports to save space. However, some ports may be different, and you may need an adapter in order to use them.