...Personal computers are now a very common item in many houses yet in 1955, there were only 250 computers in use throughout the world. In 1980, more than one million personal computers had been sold and by the mid-1980’s, this figure had risen to 30 million. How did this come about? A computer in 1955 was very large and could not have fitted into a normal room in a normal sized house. They frequently burned out and had a tendency to attract moths into the system which short-circuited them. (Getting a computer ‘bug’ now refers back to the time when moths were a problem to the early computers). In the late 1950’s, computers got smaller because one of its main components - the valve - was replaced by the much smaller transistor. These made computers far more reliable and therefore businesses took a much greater interest in them. Firms such as IBM could sell a mainframe computer for just under £½ million pounds in today’s money. By the mid-1960’s, the microchip was replacing the transistor. A microchip could have several transistors on it. But being smaller, it lead again to a decrease in the size of computers. By 1965, there were 20,000 computers in the world. The most famous was the IBM System/360. The microchip also leads to computers being made that were small enough to get into the average sized room in a house. By 1970, one microchip could contain 1000 transistors on it. In 1970, a home personal computer would have cost nearly £70,000 in today’s money. In 1971, the microprocessor...
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...Best Personal Computer Compare and Contrast Patience D. Roberson American Intercontinental University Abstract A summation of this essay is to distinguish the differences and compare similarities between three distinct computer models; Apple iMac, Dell Vostro 230 Mini Tower, and Lenovo Think Centre A58. Consumers can use the information from these three products to decide which one is best for their business. This essay will focus on each models processor, storage memory, video/audio, along with other features they have. Best Personal Computer Compare and Contrast A company’s computer is its most valuable entity. Employees must be able to proficiently use email, access associates and activities, develop papers, improve databases, access the internet and more. When running a business, it is essential that the best computers are being utilized. Companies have increasingly come to be dependent upon a computers innovative skill to keep track of information. Choosing the best personal computer for a business is not an easy decision. Apple iMac, Dell Vostro 230 Mini Tower, and Lenovo Think Centre A58 have received top ratings for personal computers. Their processors, storage memory, video/audio, warranty, and other features have placed them as the top three choices. The processors, usually called CPU, play a significant role to a computer. Any work done on a company’s computer is performed directly or indirectly by the processor. The processor determines the performance...
Words: 970 - Pages: 4
...The benefits of a PC The benefits of having a personal computer at home is huge. Owning a PC at home can provide me with the following tangible benefits: 1. PC can be used for multiple recreational activities. It can be used for playing games, watching movies, listening to songs, recording voice, drawing via online tools and much more. It can be used as an all-in-one machine and reduce the cost of buying specific electronic devices like DVD player, music system, etc. I use the PC for doing all the things mentioned above. 2. My PC can drastically increase the speed of my work for any projects, assignments and homework. I can use the PC for calculations using excel, for creating charts using Visio, preparing presentations using PowerPoint, etc. I also use the PC for preparing a list of household tasks to be completed. Within few minutes, I can make a list of daily chores at a much faster speed. I use Microsoft word, Microsoft excel to make a number of documents required for daily activities. There is lot of information available on the internet and a wide range of formats, guides and software in the PC to help individuals like me to work faster. As lot of my time is saved by using a PC, I can focus on making pocket money in this time. 3. My PC can help me stay connected with my dear ones. A PC can reduce the cost for communication considerably. I stay connected to my friends, family and classmates through e-mails, phone calls via PC, Facebook...
Words: 925 - Pages: 4
...The impact of the Personal Computer A computer is a device that receives processes and presents information. A personal computer is a computer that is created for private use by an individual. “Computers small and inexpensive enough to be purchased by individuals first became feasible in the 1970’s when large scale integration made it possible to construct a processor on a single semiconductor”. Since then the PC industry has exploded and truly revolutionized how we live, work and communicate in almost every single way. The PC industry has had a number of big impacts in society and we will discuss some of them below. The PC industry has truly revolutionized how people communicate as the development of email and social networking has transformed the mass communications industry. Services like the post office have seen a significant decline in the demand for their services and now people can reach each other instantly, through email and social webpages. I think in the next 20 years, except for the occasional parcel or package that cannot be sent electronically, the post office and other similar service will continue to be sidelined in favor of electronic means. The old fashioned industry will be decimated but not entirely. The PC industry has also dramatically changed the entertainment industry. In years past, people had to go to theatres, and cinemas and video library stores to get VHS and watch movies. They even had to make a trip to the music store to buy a record. The PC...
Words: 688 - Pages: 3
...Personal computer Name Institution's name Introduction A computer can be defined as an electronic device with the capability of accepting raw data, process it and give out feedback, that is, it gives out information which is more useful. In the 19th century, Charles Babbage invented the first computers. They were very big and they occupied a big space. The computers were not that efficient but technological advancement led to more and more researches be conducted in order to increase the efficiency and reliability of these computers. The evolution of the personal computers took place in three major stages where each stage is said to have had a positive improvement in terms of the performance and physical size of the computers. The stages were; First stage (1937-1946) - Clifford berry and John Atanasoff were the pioneers of first electronic digital computers. The computers had no any operating system and they used vacuum tubes for processing. They were so heavy and are believed to have produced a lot of heat. They almost weighed 30 tons and consumed a lot of power. Second stage (1947-1962) – at this stage, everything was perfectly improved. Vacuum tubes were replaced with transistors and this made the computers more reliable. Programming languages were also invented in this stage as well as memory storage media. The computers were used commercially. Third stage (1963- present) – it’s at this stage that the integrated circuits were invented which brought much impact on the...
Words: 1110 - Pages: 5
...competition in an industry depends on five basic forces: new entrants, suppliers, buyers, substitutes, and industry competitors. In this paper, I analyzed the competition in the personal computer (PC) industry using Porter's Five-Force Analysis. 1. Buyers (strong) Buyers of personal computers are businesses, governments, educational institutions, and individuals. Large businesses, governments, and schools, which buy computers in large volumes, have the power to bargain on price, quality and service. Personal computer buyers are price-sensitive. However, buyers have less power when the switching costs and brand-loyalties are high. Thus, PC manufacturers can reduce a threat of buyer power by differentiating their products. An example is Apple Computer. Apple's unique operation system and its computers specifically targeted to publishing and designing industry prevent their buyers from switching to competitors' products. Its sleek product design represented by iMac and iBook also acquired many fans and increased brand-loyalty. But, despite several ways in which manufacturers have differentiated their products and found ways to increase switching costs, customers still see units as very similar and thus choose primarily on price. 2. Suppliers (Moderate) Components for manufacturing personal computers are the microprocessor, motherboard, memory storage, and peripherals such as monitor, keyboard, or mouse, along with bundled software. Most of the components are highly standardized...
Words: 323 - Pages: 2
...Merging personal computers with consumer electronics Edmund Wilson III Colorado Technical University Online ENG202 12/10/2010 Merging Consumer Electronics with Personal Computers The invention of the computer had two primary goals: convenience and flexibility. Its convenience provides ways for people to effectively complete a task. The flexibility further allows the user to perform a multiplicity of functions simultaneously. For example, an English inventor and Mathematician named Charles Babbage built an adding machine that would mechanically perform computations of arithmetic. (Berkshire 2004) Conveniently, this early computerized device removed the potential for human error and made it possible to compute information in a smaller amount of time and with less mental effort or energy. Today, the flexibility of computers has grown from simple Mathematical computations to multi-faceted functions and applications. Advancements in technology have opened personal computers to new supportive uses. Their functions have shifted from storing data and word processing to creating, playing, and sharing multimedia files and networks. The personal computer can be networked (connected) with home electronics to create the ultimate technological experience. These mergers can include gaming systems, DVD players, cameras, home theater or sound systems, high-end televisions, home security systems, and more. Converging most or all of these devices with your personal computer can expand your...
Words: 926 - Pages: 4
...HP: Stay or Leave the PC Industry The computer industry is a tough and competitive business. Companies are constantly competing to have the newest and greatest advancements in technology that will make their product the most appealing to consumers. It is a multi billion-dollar industry, but in mid August Hewlett Packard, the worlds largest PC distributor made the announcement that it planned to exit the Personal computer industry to focus on other aspects of their company. This shocked not only consumers, but also other competitors in the industry. Just a few months after Leo Apotheker, the CEO who made this decision, was fired from his position and replaced by Meg Whitman. When Whitman was hired she made it clear that “Apotheker's plan to exit PCs would still be considered.” For about three months this left Investors unsure about the HP stock and in just three days the stock dropped about $10 per share. It wasn’t until late October that Whitman officially announced the HP would stay in the PC business. Was this the right thing to do for the company or should they have exited the business to focus on other facets of the company? “Hewlett Packard’s revenue from last year was 92,755 million. The Personal Computer Group (PCG) brought in more that 30% of that revenue pulling in 30,458 million. Looking at this data it seems that getting rid of this line would be foolish and risky for the company. Apotheker though was focused more on the operating margin the PC industry was producing...
Words: 1748 - Pages: 7
...Personal Computers on the Internet The differences between Internet and Network Connections A PC makes a direct connection to a network by way of a network adapter, which might be a network port embedded on the motherboard or a network interface card (NIC). The adapter might also be an external device connecting to the PC using a USB port, SCSI external port, or a serial port. The adapter might provide a port for a network cable or an antenna for a wireless connection. (Andrews, Ph.D, n.d.). Local Area Network (LAN) is an example of a network connection. This covers a local area such as a home, office, or other building or a small group of buildings. The Ethenet is the most popular network architecture used today. The three variations of Ethernet are primarily distinquished from one another by speed. A single computer or local network connects to the Internet by way of an Internet service provider (ISP) using one of the following bandwidth technologies: • Regular telephone lines. The most common and least expensive way to connect to an ISP, requires an internal or external modem. • Cable modem. Just as with cable TV, cable modems are always connected. Cable modem is an example of broadband media. Broadband refers to any type of networking medium that carries more than one type of transmission. With a cable modem, the TV signal to your television and the data signals to your PC share the same cable. • DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a group of broadband technologies...
Words: 763 - Pages: 4
...Mainframe VS Personal Computer Mainframe VS Personal Computer What is the difference between a mainframe and a personal computer? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? The difference between a mainframe computer and a personal computer is, a personal computer is designed for one user to be logged in at any given time, while a mainframe computer can have several users simultaneously. Also you can go out to your local electronic store and purchase a powerful PC at a reasonable price. As for mainframe computers you cannot just run out and buy one unless you are very wealthy. The main difference the two, that everyone notices is the size. Mainframe computers only come in one size, extra-large. Personal computers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Mainframe computers and personal computers both have their advantages and disadvantages. The mainframe computers advantages are, a “mainframe computer can communicate with several users simultaneously through a technique called timesharing”(Beekman & Quinn, 2008, p. 11). Another disadvantage of a mainframe computer is they are, “room-sized machines with price tags to match” (Beekman & Quinn, 2008, p. 11). Maintenance and support is another disadvantage. When a mainframe computer needs an up-grade or repairs done, an outside party under strict contract is needed to be contacted. The advantages of a personal computer are they come in a variety of sizes, a “desktop computer is a PC designed...
Words: 414 - Pages: 2
...Main Frames vs. Personal Computers Joe Livingston POS/355 April 16 2010 Adam Manfred The essay will cover two main topics of main frames are. The second topic is personal computers or PC. The essay will define what a mainframe computer is and what the computers primary functions are. The paper will cover what a personal computer is and what PC are used for. Once both the mainframe computer and personal computer are defined, the paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both systems. According to techtarget.com a mainframe is a computer that can process thousands of lines of code for a large scale environment like a bank. Mainframes were typically very large machines could span entire rooms. Mainframes can be accessed also through local area networks (LAN) or wide area networks (WAN) and have multiple users. According to bookrags.com mainframe uses a central processing unit that performs calculates and issues instructions to other components. Personal computers or PC also do most of the tasks mainframe computers do in different and smaller scales. The personal computer or PC has many uses for individual users. According to britannica.com a personal computer or digital computer is designed for the use of one person at a time. Personal computers use most of the same comp nets as a mainframe computer like a central processing unit CPU, random access memory RAM, Hard drive. The personal computer has input and output devices like keyboard, mouse...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
...Case: Just-in-Time Production at Hewlett-Packard, Personal Office Computer Division Question 1: Should it be easier to run JIT effectively on the 150 than on the 120? Explain. Considering information given in the beginning of the case, it should be easier to run JIT effectively on HP-150. 1) HP-150 requires less number of parts, which leads to less inventory needed (20,000 active part numbers for HP-120 and its options vs 450 part numbers for HP-150); 2) Less suppliers are needed for HP-150 (200 suppliers), comparing to HP-120 (2,000 for HP-120 and its options). It will be easier to establish and maintain efficiently a long-term trustworthy relationship. 3) HP-150 has less variety (17 types of keyboards due (languages) while CPU is the same), but for HP 120 there were an average of 6 options per product. Less variety, again, provides fewer inventories and more flexibility to the process. To reduce complexity Question 2: How serious is the forecasting problem? In other words, does success with JIT depend on good forecast? Forecasting problem seems to be severe at the plant. Case says that “…manufacturing does a lot of “second guessing” because the forecasts are terrible”. However, good forecast for JIT systems is crucial. As JIT significantly reduces the amount of raw materials, WIP inventories and finished goods on hand, it greatly relies on accurate information, i.e. on the timely delivery of exactly the right raw materials in the right place in the right amount...
Words: 324 - Pages: 2
...Introduction to personal computers Homework January 9, 2015 Chapter 1, review questions 1-15 Chapter 2, review questions 1-15 Chapter 3, review questions 1-17 Presented by: Bolivar Antonio Taveras Chapter 1 review questions 1-15 Which of the following is an example of a PC? Colossus ENIAC 8088 Von Neumann Who is credited with the patent for the first computer? Eckert and Mauchly Atanasoff Microsoft Intel In the Von Neumann architecture, what two components make up the CPU? (select the two best answers) Control unit Processor Arithmetic unit Memory What technology alleviates the problem of the “Von Neumann bottleneck”? Cache Main memory CPU Hard disk drive Which of the following are groups within the Von Neumann architecture? Working storage Monitor Output devices Permanent storage Keyboard What are the three main connections in a transistor? (select the three best answers) Gate N-type silicon Source Drain Conductor MOSFET is the most common type of what electronic component? Vacuum tube CPU Integrated circuit Transistor Approximately how many transistors are incorporated into today’s Intel processors? Hundreds Thousands Millions Billions What made the 8088 Intel CPU special compared to its predecessors? 1MB address limit 33 MHz processor 64KB address limit 1MHz processor What does Moore’s law state? Whatever can go wrong with computers will. Processor...
Words: 1114 - Pages: 5
...IT 282 Week 7-Individua-Personal Computers on the Internetl Get Tutorial by Clicking on the link below or Copy Paste Link in Your Browser https://hwguiders.com/downloads/282-week-7-individua-personal-computers-internetl/ For More Courses and Exams use this form ( http://hwguiders.com/contact-us/ ) Feel Free to Search your Class through Our Product Categories or From Our Search Bar (http://hwguiders.com/ ) Personal Computers on the Internet A personal computer can be connected to LAN (Local Area Network) by using a router. This type of network is a private network that links computers at a single location, such as at a home or office building. A computer with the LAN connection is allowed to different network components like files, software and devices like printers and fax machines with in the private area. A computer can be connected to a router using Ethernet cable, or a router can communicate wirelessly using radio waves. The Internet is wider than the LAN, basically it is network of networks, and it connects the different networks (LANs and/or MANs) available worldwide and makes them public. The internet connection is called WAN (Wide Area Network) that connects millions of smaller networks with over a billion computers connected at any given time. The most basic difference between a LAN and the Internet then, is that a LAN is private and localized, while the Internet is public and worldwide. A LAN is connected to a router using Ethernet cable but the...
Words: 3252 - Pages: 14
...Dell Inc. in 2008: Can it overtake Hewlett-Packard as the Worldwide Leader in Personal Computers? Dell is a global company that delivers products and services in more than 190 countries and over 40000 employees who live and work on six continents. The company deals in enterprise computing products, desktops, monitors, printers, notebooks, handhelds, software and peripherals with a focus on fully integrated improved environmental performance into business. The company had gone through many ups and down from its inception in 1984 and has to face many challenges and competitions to stay ahead in the market (Kolter and Lee, 2008). This paper strategically discusses the fall and rise of Dell Inc from 2007 to 2008 and to compare Dells strategy with that of Hewlett Packard with due reference from the case study “Dell Inc in 2008: Can it overtake Hewlett Packard as the worldwide leader in personal computers.” A) Dell’s Strategy to overcome HP in Personal Computers Michael Dell founded the company with simple vision and business concept that the personal computers could be built and sold directly to the consumers which would eliminate the additional costs of intermediaries between the company and consumer and thus reducing the overall cost of the PCs making it cheaper than other PCs in the market. The other advantage was that it reduces the costs and risks associated with carrying large stocks of parts, components and finished goods (Thompson and Gamble, 2006). The company later...
Words: 318 - Pages: 2
