UNDERSTANDING YOUR
COMPUTER
TWO BASIC TYPES OF COMPUTERS
Personal Computers
• Called PC’s.
• This type of computer is made by several
different companies.
• The computers we will use in class.
Macintosh
• Often called Macs and Apples.
• These computers look different on the
inside and outside but they can do basically
the same things.
OPERATING SYSTEMS (OS)
• The operating system tells everything in
your computer how to act.
• It can change the way things appear on your
screen or desktop.
Windows is the most
common operating
system for PCs.
HARDWARE
Hardware is the name for the physical
parts of your computer.
• CPU
• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Speakers
• Printer
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
• This is what makes a computer
work. It is like the brain of the
computer.
• Contains the disk drives and hard
drive.
• This is where you will find the power
switch to turn the computer on and
off.
• Also called CPU, Computer, and
Processor.
MOUSE
•
•
•
•
•
Cursor
Click
Double-Click
Click and Drag
Right-Click
KEYBOARD
•
•
•
•
•
•
10-Key pad
Arrow Keys
Caps Lock
Shift
Back Space/ Delete
Enter or Return
DISKS
• 3.5 Floppy Disk
– We will use these in
class.
– Like a folder in your
pocket
• CD ROM Disk
– Just like a music CD.
– Software is purchased
on CD.
– Today, some CD’s can
be used to save
information, but the
computer has to have a
CD burners.
Desktop
• The first screen you see when the computer
starts up
• The desktop has
several icons that
can be used as
short-cuts to a
program or file.
DRIVES
• Drives are different places on your computer to
save information.
• 3 ½ Floppy A: is the disk drive
• C: is the hard drive
Folders and Documents
• Folders help organize the things you save
on the computer.
• Each thing you save is called a document or
a file.
SOFTWARE
• Software is
information or
instructions for your
computer.
• Software needs to be
installed on a
computer, usually
from a CD.
Some examples of
software programs that
we will use in class:
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–
–
–
–
–
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Publisher
Internet Explorer
Mavis Beacon
MICROSOFT WORD
• Word Processor
• Like a typewriter except you can edit, copy,
move and delete
text. You can
check your spelling
and grammar, too.
• Use for letters and
documents which
are mainly words.
MICROSOFT EXCEL
• Spreadsheet
• Use with documents
which are mainly
numbers or graphs.
• Adds and multiplies
numbers.
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT
• Presentation software.
• Use for posters and
presentations.
• This presentation
was created on
PowerPoint!
MICROSOFT INTERNET
EXPLORER
• This software allows
you to use the
internet.
• When you use the
internet you can send
and receive e-mail.
MAVIS BEACON
• Mavis Beacon is a
learning software.
• Mavis Beacon teaches
typing and 10-Key.
• You can use this
software to learn to
type.