Reference Series Table of Contents |
How Computers Work, Part I
Reference Series Vol 5 Issue 3
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Introduction Inside (& Outside) The PC Hardware There are two types of hardware that make up a computer system: the components inside your computer case and the peripherals that attach to it. We examine a variety of both types of hardware in this section. Inside The PC's Brain Memories Are Made Of This Hard Drives Made Easy The CD Difference Unveiling The Mysterious Motherboard Where Peripherals Come Into Port Tuning In To Audio Silicon Launch Pad The Magic Of An LCD Shuffle The Deck Dissecting Mice & Trackballs To Define Their Mass Appeal The Driving Force Behind Modems A Scanner On Every Desktop Shedding Light On Laser Printers The Eminent Inkjet Software The intricacies of software are as mysterious to most people as verb conjugations in foreign languages. If hardware is the engine that runs a computer, then software is the fuel. These coded instructions dictate what tasks your computer performs, when it carries them out, and how it goes about its duties. Coming To Grips With Linked Objects In Windows FAT Maps Hard Drive Storage ConnectingThe Dots Relating To Databases Picking Apart Bit-Mapped Graphics Play MIDI For Me Systems & Processes We take a look at how PCs--and CPUs, the microprocessors that are the brains of computers--are built in this section. We also walk you through a few of the latest technological systems and processes that more and more of us are coming into contact with every day. Building The Perfect Processor Producing The PC Get Connected With Networks GPS Offers More Than A Bird’s-Eye View Speed Up Your Internet Connection With DSL Deciphering The Secret World Of Encryption Unfolding File Compression & Reduction Understanding The True Nature Of Viruses Make Your Voice Heard Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems Internet Although many Internet companies have crashed and burned, the global network itself continues to grow in importance. This powerful communications tool has affected institutions, governments, and businesses worldwide. We help you to understand the technologies behind the Internet and why the network of networks has had such an impact. Inside The Internet Behind The Domain Name Searching The Internet En Route With Electronic Mail Web Tracking Is Watching You E-money! Digital & Spendable |