IT 342
Assignment 1
Due: 04 September 2022
1. List three tangible, physical resources that can be found on a typical computer system. Also, list three that are
not tangible, not physically real. [Based on M&F chapter 1, problem 11]
2. The IBM 370 mainframe computer was introduced in 1970. The 370 Model 145 could hold up to 524,288 bytes
of data (512 Kbytes). It cost $1,783,000.00 to buy (or $37,330/month to rent). A notebook computer today holds
16 Gbytes of memory and costs $2,500 to buy. If you assume that 100% of the price is just the memory, for both
computers:
• How much did 1 Kbyte of memory in the IBM computer cost?
• How much does 1 Kbyte of memory in the laptop cost?
• How many times cheaper is the memory in the laptop than memory in the mainframe?
• Why is today’s computer cheaper than the IBM 370?
3. Many people confuse main memory and secondary storage. Explain why they get confused, and describe how
you would explain the differences to classmates so they would no longer confuse the two. [Based on M&F chapter
1, problem 8]
4. In computing literature the numerical value represented by the prefixes kilo-, mega-, giga-, etc. can vary
depending on whether they are describing bytes of main memory or bits of data transmission speed. Research the
actual value (the number of bytes) in a megabyte (MB) and then compare that value to the number of bits in a
megabit (Mb). Are they the same or different? If there is a difference or uncertainty, explain why that is the case.
5. Give real-world examples of interactive, batch, real-time, and embedded systems and explain the fundamental
differences among them