LET'S COMPUTE!

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of The Old Block Church of Computing, where people and what they do with their computers take center stage.

Join our little family of computer-conscious adults who love their binary friends. Sometimes it is a love-hate relationship, but when all is said and done, love wins out. Computers and hand-held devices are meant to make life easier for us humans, just like the revolutionary automobile has done.

Like an automobile, a computer has basic components that are required to make it run properly. The power supply determines the type and capacity of devices that can be attached to the tower/case/chassis, which is the most visible and utilitarian part of the computer. The power supply is the portion of the computer that plugs into a wall or surge-protected power outlet and supplies the power needed to run the motherboard and all of its attached or associated peripheral devices.

The motherboard is key because it houses the CPU, (Central Processing Unit), or brain, as well as the numeric processor that handles arithmetic. The motherboard holds and determines how much RAM, (Random Access Memory), the computer can support. The BIOS, (Basic Input Output System), is contained in a special re-configurable EPROM, (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), device that is built into the motherboard, (in the past it plugged into the motherboard and could be replaced to upgrade it). The modern BIOS setup can be wiped and rewritten by connecting a specified jumper switch,(usually two thin prongs), or "Flashed" to upgrade to a newer version. The motherboard also provides slots for external video, sound, fax, and network cards for upgrades, as well as onboard devices that provide similar, but usually more limited functions.

Peripheral devices like hard disk drives, DVD/Blu-Ray disk drives, and memory stick readers are attached to both the motherboard and the power supply via data and power cables. USB, (Universal Serial Bus), drives are supported as both peripherals and built-in connectors, (usually in the front and back of the case). The type of hard disk drive used depends on the power supply, but most modern power supplies support SATA/Raid or Server-type drives with L-shaped power and data cables, which can only be attached one way. Solid-state drives are also more frequently used, they have an architecture that is more akin to memory than to hard disk architecture.)

A software engine is needed to run, manage, and monitor the computer's hardware. This essential engine is called the operating system or OS. Microsoft®, (Windows), Linux®, (the Unix-driven OS that powers Android devices), and Apple®, (Unix), are the three most widely used consumer operating systems. Of the three major operating systems, Linux is usually the only one that can be obtained without a fee. It is largely open-source software, which means that the entire Linux community can re-write, upgrade, and utilize the OS as they please. (Red Hat is one exception to the free/open source rule for Linux because its owners choose to license the OS like Microsoft and Apple, at $350.00 to $8,000.00 per year.) When an OS is an open-source or freely distributed system there is less likelihood of hacks, cracks, and viruses. The major drawback of the Linux OS is the lack of major applications. Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and other great applications can only be found on Microsoft and Apple engines. However, there are comparable clone applications, (apps), that are widely distributed for the Linux OS. The internet, however, is the same on all platforms. (The WOW Computer uses the Linux OS and takes full advantage of the internet and all related software such as Skype, Adobe Flash, and PDF, as well as all Google products like YouTube. The WOW system is completely closed, with no installations permitted by the user. A pretty, protected prison.)

Input devices are required to make a data connection between the user and the computer OS. The mouse, keyboard, and joystick/gamepad provide input to the computer through small pieces of software called drivers that are accepted, installed, and utilized by the operating system. The de facto peripheral connection unit for input and output devices is the aforementioned USB interface. Printers, scanners, external drives, and other useful devices are also attached to the computer chassis via USB connectors. The most important USB devices are the mouse and keyboard. These input devices allow for every possible type of interaction with your computer. Software applications and games require the use of one or both input devices, (some games use joystick-type controllers). There are both hardwired and wireless input devices, and each has its own inherent strengths and weaknesses. Wireless keyboards should be encrypted to avoid sending out passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data to be captured by local hackers. Wireless devices should be turned off after daily use, to preserve battery life. Hardwired input devices must have designated and controlled wire paths so as not to become tangled and eventually broken. Simply using twist ties, conduits or other types of fasteners will ensure the integrity of all wired devices.

The video interface is extremely important and provides three levels of viewing quality through the legacy Video Graphics Array, (VGA), Digital Visual Interface, (DVI), and the more popular High-Definition Multimedia Interface, (HDMI). These visual interface connectors are available as onboard devices, (attached and configured to the motherboard), or peripheral daughterboards, AKA expansion cards, that are affixed to the main board through a legacy Peripheral Component Interconnect, (PCI), Accelerated Graphics Port, (AGP), slot or moreover, the superseding PCI Express, (PCIe), form factor. "Seeing is believing", and these devices make it possible to believe that all of the aforementioned components are working in concert to provide an invaluable service to you, the end user.

In short, computers are simply complex machines that are designed from the ground up to simplify and enhance our lives. Take charge, and master the computer for your own personal needs. Remember, you drive the car, it does not drive you.