Apple Desktops
A desktop computer is a personal computer made for use on a desk in an office or home and is distinguished from portable computers such as laptops or PDAs and specialized computers such as servers. more...
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Desktops are currently the most affordable computers and ubiquitous in businesses, schools, and households; they are used for performing office tasks, organizing digital photos, video editing and Internet access. Nearly all desktop computers are modular, with components that can easily be replaced or upgraded.
Desktop computers come in a variety of case styles ranging from large vertical towers to small form factor models that can be tucked behind an LCD monitor.
History
Desktop computers were widely produced throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Originally they were named "microcomputers" to differentiate them from the mainframe and minicomputers that were traditionally available for sale by the major computer companies at the time. In 1975 the MITS Altair became the first pre-assembled desktop computer available on the market. However, due to the computer's design being geared more towards the hobbyist market the appeal of the machine was limited.
1977 saw the near-simultaneous release in the U.S. of three computers that equally deserve mention as the forerunners of today's desktop computer: the Apple II, the Commodore PET. and the Tandy TRS-80 computer. Each of these machines would be considered crude by today's standards; the TRS-80, for example, comprised a green phosphor 12" screen, an expansion box with 4 kilobytes of memory, a keyboard and a cassette recorder. It retailed for around £695.
Through the 1980s the desktop computer became more and more commonplace in society. Sales boomed as a wide spectrum of users, from the largest corporation down to the individual at home, found exciting new uses for the machines. However, it was not until the internet explosion in the mid-1990s that the desktop computer became nearly ubiquitous in our modern era.
Hardware
The hardware in a desktop computer is modular, making it easy for Desktop computers are generally more affordable than notebook computers. This is because no extra effort is needed to miniaturize the components, or to manufacture components that use up less power.
Components
Fan - cools the computer. These are present on most computers.;
Motherboard - links all of the components together and routes data.;
Hard drive - location where all information are stored.;
CD-ROM or DVD Drive - reads most or all types of CDs and/or DVDs.;
Processor.- The main brain of the computer.;
CPU Cooler - cools the processing unit. Typically a fan combined with a heatsink.;
RAM - short-term data storage.;
Graphics card - codes video output and delivers to monitor.;
Physics card - performs physics computations in some modern games.;
Sound card - codes sound output and delivers to speakers.;
Speakers - deliver sound.;
Modem - used to access data via a telephone line (dial-up connection). Used to access BBS and the Internet.;
Network card - allows the computer to be linked to a computer network where it can communicate with other computers. Also used as a means of accessing the Internet via a broadband connection.;
Power supply - A device that prodives power to the lest of the computer parts.;
Floppy Drive - Reads and Writes floppy disks. Although largely supplanted by CDs and Flash Drives, is still common on many systems, and may be required during set-up on certain operating systems.;
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