| A computer is a simply device (believe it or not) for | | | | Server - getting techie here.Today millions of |
| data manipulation using program instructions based on | | | | computers are connected to the Internet with |
| your input. Computers have revolutionized | | | | hundreds of millions of sites combined. Some servers |
| communication in the world as we presently know | | | | like search engines and email servers get a huge |
| it.A computer has certain basic components. I'll list | | | | number of visitors. If the number of visitors to any |
| them out with some commonly known information as | | | | one site increases the page loading takes more time |
| well.Case: or tower, different sizes, shapes and colors | | | | since the server has to handle all these visitors |
| these days are available.Motherboard: This is the unit | | | | simultaneously and serve out or upload those files to |
| that hold's everything together. It's like the frame of | | | | the computer that has requested to view that web |
| your car, everything is bolted to it.Central Processing | | | | page. The solution to such a problem is called load |
| Unit: CPU or processor or Chip, this is the little fan | | | | balancing. The load is distributed by the load balancing |
| dangled object that does all the smart stuff so you | | | | web server to other linked computers and |
| can do whatever task's you'll need to do with your | | | | processors to reduce computing time and |
| computer.Random Access Memory: known as RAM | | | | communicate with the visitor computers who have |
| or just memory. The more and the faster it runs the | | | | requested the webpage.Laptops - pretty cool if you |
| better.Power Supply & adaptors: just know that your | | | | need it.Laptops are portable computers called laptops |
| computer needs this to take power from the wall | | | | because they are usually used with the computer |
| and gives it to the board which powers up | | | | placed on the lap of the user. Laptops weigh |
| everything else.Video display: VGA adapter or | | | | between 3 to 4 kgs and run on batteries. The falling |
| graphics adapter too. If you'll be playing games you'll | | | | price levels have popularized laptops to a great |
| want a large one of these.Removable Media: storage | | | | extent. The present day laptops are light, have |
| device of some sort, floppy drive, CD, DVD, Media | | | | exceptional computing power, are affordable, and |
| card. This is basically anything your computer can put | | | | have sleek aesthetic appeal. They are used in various |
| information on that you can walk away with.Internal | | | | applications like programming large machines like CNC |
| Storage: known as your hard disk or hard drive or | | | | machines, Co-ordinate measuring machines etc. As |
| just 'drive'. This is an extremely fast spinning device | | | | laptops are transported a lot, a water resistant model |
| that stores all your files and your operating | | | | is very much desirable. Panasonic has launched a |
| system.Networking cards: if you don't know what | | | | waterproof laptop model available in Japan. Though |
| this is you probly don't need to. It's most commonly | | | | not completely waterproof, it is resistant to coffee |
| used for connecting more than one computer | | | | or water spills. There are commercial laptop variants |
| together in a network or to get your computer out | | | | available like the Dell latitude which is very popular. |
| to the internet.Basics of computer shopping:Best | | | | The latitude has Intel dual core processors, weighs |
| advice I can give, shop around (:--). Ask allot of | | | | 4.7 pounds, has 2MB L2 cache, has wide aspect |
| questions. Basically you are going to want a computer | | | | screens of 12, 14 and 15 inches and larger, 512 MB |
| with the largest CPU, most amount of RAM, large | | | | RAM and 4 USB ports. More ram the merrier I |
| hard drive etc. A decent speed tower for 2006 is | | | | say!Tablet PCs.Tablet PCs are light weight slate |
| 3GHZ CPU, 1 Gig Ram, 250 Gig hard disk. Basically get | | | | shaped hand-held computers. A tablet PC consists of |
| the biggest baddest machine you can for the least | | | | a hand held touch screen with a light pen or stylus. |
| amount of donuts (dollars).Computer technology is | | | | Tablet PCs usually have inbuilt handwriting recognition |
| moving ahead in leaps and bounds. Here are some | | | | software to recognize whatever is written on the |
| other terms you may have heard before and | | | | screen with the stylus. In tablet PCs a keyboard is |
| wondered what they meant.So what's a 'web | | | | not required as data input can be done by touch or |
| server'?Just a name for a computer that 'serves' out | | | | writing with the stylus. These are quite pricy but |
| files to people that have requested them. When you | | | | good for face to face business |
| visit a web page you will be requesting some | | | | presentations.Summary.Computers have |
| computer located somewhere in the world to upload | | | | revolutionized the way we live and have a |
| that webpage from their computer to yours. Since | | | | tremendous effect on our civilization, shaping the |
| their files are the ones serving the files to you they | | | | future. Computers are becoming more powerful and |
| are called 'web servers'. Sort of like when you are on | | | | more affordable everyday. We hope this helps take |
| MSN and you send a picture of someone from your | | | | a bit of the techie out of the basics of computers |
| computer to theirs. In this case your computer is | | | | because they really are quite simple. |
| actually 'serving' the files to theirs.Load Balancing Web | | | | |