Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Quick Review
1
What is a brief definition of “personal computer”?
2
What key characteristics of a desktop PC distinguish it from a notebook PC?
3
What are the differences between a server, a mainframe, and a supercomputer?
Understanding Software Types
Software
tells the hardware what to do, but different kinds of software
accomplish that at different levels. The following sections provide an
overview of the types of software a computer might include.
software
The programs that tell the computer
what to do.
BIOS
The most basic software is the
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)
.
This software is stored on a read-only chip on the motherboard so that
it doesn't accidentally get changed or corrupted. This important soft-
ware helps the computer start up and performs some basic testing on the
hardware.
BIOS
The software that initializes and tests the
system at startup.
Operating Systems
The
operating system (OS)
manages all the computer's activities after
startup. The operating system serves several purposes:
operating system
Software that maintains the
computer's interface, manages files, runs applica-
tions, and communicates with hardware.
◾
It provides the user interface
that humans use to communicate
commands and receive feedback.
◾
It runs applications,
and enables humans to interact with them.
◾
It controls and manages the file storage system.
◾
It communicates with the hardware,
instructing it to take action
to accomplish tasks. For example, the OS tells the printer to print a
document, and tells the monitor what image to display.
Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system; Figure 1.8
shows the Windows 7 interface. Other operating systems include Mac
OS and Linux for desktop and notebook PCs, UNIX for mainframes
and servers, and Android for tablets and smartphones. Special versions of
Windows and Mac OS also power tablets and smartphones. Each operat-
ing system has its own unique set of features, benefits, and drawbacks, so
it pays to learn as much as you can about the operating systems available
and choose a computer that will run the operating system that best fits
your needs. You will learn much more about operating systems in general
in
Chapter 4, “Operating System Basics,”
and more about the Windows 7
interface in
Chapter 5, “Introduction to Windows 7.”
