A computer is an integrated machine which is able to perform logical or numerical operations automatically. Modern computers are able to do very wide range of operations like typing, processing, storing and retrieve data. In computer terminology a computer is used to process data and information stored in its memory and to communicate with the external world. Computers are widely used in everyday life. It is also used in many businesses and industries as well as at home for doing specific tasks such as payroll and address book functions.
A personal computer is generally a small sized machine, which is capable of running various applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, Presentation files, the database and the internet browser. The computer hardware is generally based on the operating system that comes with the software. The basic parts of the personal computer are the central processing unit or the CPU, random access memory or RAM, hard disk space and the display screen. Modern computers today are very powerful and so much that it has become very difficult for people to use them without any help.
The CPU of a computer implements the operating system, the hardware components such as the keyboard, the monitor, the graphics card, the CPU bus, the power supply unit and the expansion slot. The other hardware components include the memory card, the hard drive, the optical drives, the USB, the Ethernet and the modem. When it comes to input devices, the computer connects to the keyboard, the mouse, the pointing device or the trackball to the appropriate input device.
In a computer system, the central processing unit controls all the output devices and also provides for the input devices. In computer systems, the PC is divided into various groups. First of all, there is the central processing unit or the CPU which is capable of managing the overall operation of the PC and manages the communication between the various output devices and the software that controls the operation of the PC.
Secondly, there is the peripheral unit or the device driver which is responsible for the operation of the peripheral devices like the mouse, the printer or the scanner and enables the user to use the devices with a minimal amount of effort. The third group of computers is the integrated circuit products (ICs) which are used for implementing the electronic circuitry in the PCs. Integrated circuits are available in the form of microprocessors, logic gates or microprocessors or at really small sizes. The fourth group of computers is the distributed control system which is composed of microcontrollers that can perform different tasks in the computers. Lastly, there are the memory devices that store the instructions and the data that are executed by the microprocessor. All these groups of computers are related to each other through the physical connections.
These days, computers are very useful for performing a variety of activities including business management, entertainment, education, scientific purposes etc. They have been made more useful by the different types of hardware and software that have been designed to make their job easier. To make your work easy and convenient, you must get an appropriate computer system that suits your need.