For Beginners only.

Preface: This all information written according to the user level so pl. don't go deep in to technical details as it was omitted intensely for the beginners, for whom it will bring heavy dose at the start. So as the language is also not much technical but as per the routine day to day like.

Computer Basics & Internet

In nowadays every one likes to learn about the Internet and its usage. But before learning about the Internet you must be aware about the basics of the computers, how it woks and some common terminology.

Basics of the Computers

The new generation commercial computers which, we are using today is invented in 1976. The growth of which, in India actually stated during and after 1984 onwards. The computer is nothing but a combination of some devices (Logical and Physical) which work to gather and give the user possible desired output.

Know the Terms and Devices related to your computer:

1. Monitor (Output Device):

Monitor is the device form, which you can create a visual interface with the computer. Mind well that the monitor is only an output device not a computer it self. Many people in the India would believe that the brand of the monitor is the computer brand. In reality the computers are known by its CPU or branded company name Viz Pentium III or Compaq PC or IBM PC.

2. Keyboard (Input Device):

Keyboard is an input device from you can give command to the computer or insert the data you desired.

3. Mouse (Input Device):

Mouse is also an input device. Now most of people are using the GUI Operating System. Which needs only clicks for the commands. And thus the mouse is used for the same.

4. Operating System:

Every computer needs a platform on which it works. This platform is nothing but a program developed by programmer, to make computer user friendly. And it is known as Operating System i.e. DOS, Windows, Unix, Linux etc.

5. GUI:

Graphical User Interface is an environment of a new generation operating systems i.e. Windows; Linux’s Gnome, KDE; Unix’s Xwindow etc., from which user directly interface graphically.

6. CPU Cabinet:

CPU cabinet is the cabinet in which the motherboard and the some internal devices are fitted. They are available in two models. 1. Tower (Vertical) 2. Flat (Horizontal)

7. CPU:

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. All the work given by the user processes in the CPU. In other word the CPU is the mind of the computer. Some popular CPU is Intel Pentium, Intel Pentium-II, Intel Pentium-III, AMD, and Cyrix. The speed of the CPU is majored in megahertz. More the MHz more the speed of CPU.

8. Mother Board:

Motherboard is a circuit on which all the internal devices of the computer are fitted that’s why it’s known as motherboard. Some of the popular mother board chipset is Intel 810 chip set, Intel 440 Bx, Intel 440 Zx.

9. RAM (Memory Device):

RAM (Pronounced as a Re..am)stands for Random Access Memory. Like human being the computer also needs a memory to store the specific addresses or detail and while doing some work it needs to be recall that memory. In same way the computer while doing random work needs to share some memory. Which is make available physically to computer and fitted on the motherboard. In nowadays due to heavy graphical needs of the users the minimum RAM is 32 MB and recommended is 64MB.

10. ROM (Memory Device):

ROM stands for Read Only Memory. Like in human mind some memory are permanently stored we can not change it. And it is must. Likewise the computer while booting needs some predefined work to do which are stored in the ROM.

11. Booting (Procedure):

In simple word we can say that Tuning on Computer is booting.

12. Hard Disk (Storage Device):

Hard disk is a device that stores the data or information, which are created by user. Thus the hard disk is the storage device. Nowadays the 2.1 GB hard disk is outdated at least 4.3 GB hard disk is required. Generally it is immobile storage device.

13. Printer:

Printer is a device to print the work the user done on the computer. The copy is also known as hard copy. They are of three type, 1. Dot Matrix 2. Inkjet 3.Laser.

14. Hard Copy:

The hard copy is the copy, which is physically available. The printed copy of computer work is known as Hard copy.

15. Soft Copy:

The soft copy is the computer work copy, which is available in the movable storage device viz. Floppy, CD-ROM.

16. Floppy (Movable Storage Device):

Floppy is movable storage device on which you can take your one file to use it in another computer. Though the capacity of the floppy is much-much smaller then Hard disk, it is useful as well as effective storage media. In the other limitation of the floppy is the data would be corrupted if stored for long duration. The main popular size of the floppy diskette is 1.2 MB (5 ½ inches), 1.44 MB (3 ½ inches). In recent past many company’s introduced the big storage capacity Floppy Disk. They are of 120 MB in the storage size. The performance of which is not available and other thing is it is quite costly.

17. CD ROM: (Movable Storage Device):

Compact Disk Read Only Memory is over come the floppy’s limitation to storage the data. In it is highly secure to store on the CD-ROM. The storage life is very high, if protected from the scratches. The storage capacity is very high of about 640 MB. But the only disadvantage it has is it requires CD-Writer to write the data on it. And as its name suggest you can write only once on to it. But now in the market the CD-R (CD- Re-writable) and CD-W(CD-Writable – You can write one more time) is available.

18. Multi Media Kit:

The sound, video etc. which we are watching on the computer is known as multimedia. For these facilities the computer needs a multi media kit. That is a CD-ROM, a Sound card and AGP Card.

19. Network:

In offices, where you have about 10 computers and the work is done on every computer randomly. And if some body work on computer 3 and other day he wants to append his/her work it is quite annoying that he/she has to wait till the computer is free. So to overcome this situation the Engineers created a network with help of the cables and some protocols so that every computer remains linked. And every one can share the resources available on to all computers.

20. Protocol:

In simple word, protocol is nothing but a rules and regulation for connecting or sharing the resources. If the protocol is satisfied than it will allowed sharing the resources and data accordingly. Some protocols are FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) etc.

21. LAN:

LAN stands for Local Area Network. As its name suggests it is a network of the computers locally i.e. in one room, one building.

22. WAN:

WAN stands for Wide Area Network. As its name suggests it is a network of the computers spreaded widely geographically i.e. One the head office of the large firm is in the one city and the computers of that office is connected to it’s other city’s office, The Railway Ticket Booking system is also is a WAN.

23. Internet:

Internet is a huge network of computer networks. For Internet connection at home you required an Internet connection form ISP, TCP/IP enabled operating system (Mostly all new operating system are TCP/IP enabled), a telephone line and a Modem.

24. Modem (Device):

Modem stands for Modulator Demodulator. The data, which are available on the Internet, travels in packet format that needs to be converted in to computer language. So the modems role is to convert the data in to packets and transmit it by phone line and vise versa. It is available as external as well as internal device.

25. ISP:

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. If you need a Internet connection you have to buy it from ISP.

Now that after a heavy dose of the essential technical terminology lets start with the your favorite topic Internet....