Computersight -

The Processor

The CPU, A.K.A “Processor” processes all of the things that you tell the computer to do. For example, if you hit the “H” key on the keyboard, the little bit of information that the keyboard sends to the computer has to be sent through the processor in order for the computer to respond.

The RAM

Some people call it Memory, but technical people like to call it RAM, which stands for Random Access Memory. The RAM acts as a virtual Hard Disk Drive (HDD, or Hard Drive), and stores all of the files that are needed to run the programs that you have open. The more RAM you have, the more programs you can have open at once. When you close a program, the files aren’t deleted, but they are erased from the RAM. I will explain where they are stored later in the guide. Also, the more RAM you have, the faster your programs will run.

Image via Wikipedia

The Hard Disk Drive

The Hard Disk Drive, also known as the Hard drive, or HDD, is where ALL of your files are stored. If you delete anything from this drive, it will be lost forever. Ahem, I mean, only the smartest people and devices can recover information on cleaned Hard Drives. This is where your Windows (Mac, or Linux) Operating System files, photos, videos, MP3’s, Other Songs, and everything else that you do is stored on. The HDD can easily be damaged. If you open the case, cover a hole you aren’t supposed to, press down too hard on the enclosure, then it will damage the drive, making any data on the drive unreadable, and the drive unusable. Laptop HDD’s are damaged easier than the 3.5″ drive in your normal Desktop PC, due to the thinner case surrounding its internal parts of the drive. Inside is a tiny needle and a spinning disk. A Hard Drive is very much like a CD or DVD. Only differences are, CD’s and DVD’s are written to using a laser, and some aren’t rewritable, where a HDD is, and it uses a needle to write information to it. The Hard Disk Drive is one of the MOST VALUABLE ITEMS in a computer. NEVER handle a Hard Disk Drive, unless you know what you are doing.

Desktop PC HDD:

Image via Wikipedia

Laptop HDD:

Operating Systems

An OS (operating system), like Microsoft Windows, Mac, or Linux, is what your whole computer is based off of. Think of the OS as the huge program that will run all of your movies, videos, music, favorite programs, games, etc. inside of it. Another term for an Operating System is, well, “System”. Be careful, if you go around hunting in your folders, and find something that you think you don’t need, DO SOME RESEARCH on the file, unless it is something that YOU CREATED on your own. If you delete any of the system files, then you most likely will have to reinstall your Operating System, which will delete all of your files, music, videos, movies, programs, settings, etc. The most recent OS’s are:

• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows 7 (codename: Vienna)
• Mac OS X Leopard
• Linux Ubuntu
• Linux MythTV

My favorite one out of those 5 is Windows 7.

Suggested Specifications for Windows Vista, and Windows 7

A lot of people are complaining that Windows Vista is a bad Operating System. This is only because they are trying to run Vista on their same computer that had Windows XP on it (released in 2002). Of course Vista will be slow on an Intel Celeron processor, 512MB of RAM, and a not-so-great video card. But, this all changed in Windows 7. I would suggest AT LEAST 2GB od RAM and a 2.0GHz Dual Core Processor. Hopefully, users will like Microsoft’s new release of 7. It is programmed in such a way that it doesn’t demand so much RAM, and you can run it on a slower processor. So, why not try out 7 on your computer? I will release a guide soon for instructions on how to install it using a Virtual Machine (so you don’t have to change your current installation). Microsoft has an RC version availible for download for free until the end of July, but has a 1 year license. You can get it at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx