Hardware and Software

•Organizations invest in computer hardware to:
–Improve worker productivity
–Increase revenue, reduce costs
–Provide better customer service


Hardware Components
•Central processing unit (CPU):

–Arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and the register areas

•Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU):
–Performs mathematical calculations and makes logical comparisons
•Control unit:
–Sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data in and out of the ALU, registers, primary storage, and even secondary storage and various output devices


Secondary Storage Devices
•Magnetic tapes:

–Primarily for storing backups of critical organizational data

•Magnetic disks:
–Direct-access storage device
•Redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks (RAID):
–Method of storing data that generates extra bits of data from existing data
•Virtual tape:
–Storage technology for less frequently needed data

•Storage area network:
–Uses computer servers, distributed storage devices, and networks to tie everything together
•Optical discs:
–Common form of optical disc on which data cannot be modified once it has been recorded
•Digital video disc (DVD):
–Storage medium used to store software, video games, and movies


•Devices used to input general types of data:
–Personal computer input devices
–Speech recognition technology
–Digital cameras
–Touch-sensitive screens
–Optical data readers
–Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices
–Pen input devices
–Magnetic stripe card
–Radio Frequency Identification

Output Devices

•Display monitors:
–Used to display the output from the computer
–Plasma display:
•Uses thousands of smart cells (pixels) consisting of electrodes and neon and xenon gases that are electrically turned into plasma to emit light
–LCD displays:
•Flat displays that use liquid crystals
–Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs):
•Use a layer of organic material sandwiched between two conductors

•Printers and plotters:
–Two main types of printers are laser printers and inkjet printers
–Plotters are a type of hard-copy output device used for general design work
•Digital audio player:
–Can store, organize, and play digital music files
•E-books:
–Digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book

Portable Computers

•Netbook computer:
–The smallest, lightest, least expensive member of the laptop computer family
•Tablet computers:
–Portable, lightweight computers with no keyboard
•Smartphone:
–Combines the functionality of a mobile phone, camera, Web browser, e-mail tool, MP3 player, and other devices


Nonportable Single-User Computers
•Thin client:
–Low-cost, centrally managed computer with no extra drives
•Desktop computers:
–Single-user computer systems that are highly versatile

•Nettop computer:
–Inexpensive desktop computer designed to be smaller, lighter, and consume much less power than a traditional desktop computer
•Workstations:
–More powerful than personal computers but still small enough to fit on a desktop


Multiple-User Computer Systems
•Server:
–Used by many users to perform a specific task, such as running network or Internet applications
•Blade server:
–Houses many computer motherboards
–The approach requires much less physical space than traditional server farms

•Mainframe computer:
–Large, powerful computer shared by hundreds of concurrent users connected to the machine over a network
•Supercomputers:
–The most powerful computers with the fastest processing speed and highest performance