| u go online or look at ads for electronics stores, | | | | and standards created by the IBM Company. A |
| you will probably be able to find a computer that | | | | rather high percentage of all personal computers, |
| will be just right for you. There are many types | | | | shown at somewhere over 90%, are PCs. Some |
| and styles available on the market. You can find a | | | | companies that sell PC computers are IBM, Dell, |
| computer that will take up a whole room in your | | | | Compac, and Gateway. |
| house, while you can also find a computer that will | | | | - A Mac computer is a personal computer made |
| fit into the palm of your hand! At a business, you | | | | by the Apple Company. MacIntosh was its most |
| will probably find a mainframe computer. In your | | | | popular style of computer several years ago. The |
| workplace or at home you will normally find a | | | | new IMacs are popular with die-hard Mac fans, |
| desktop computer. In the airport, the person | | | | although not as many people today use Mac |
| sitting next to you could be working on a laptop | | | | computers as used to. |
| computer or handheld computer. So, when you | | | | A personal computer in your home can be used |
| find yourself looking for a computer for your own | | | | for many things, including word processing chores, |
| personal use, you know you will have a lot to | | | | personal and business letter writing, financial |
| choose from. | | | | records and planning, internet searching, |
| When looking for a home computer, nowadays | | | | photography, and many other types of functions |
| called a personal computer, you will find it is made | | | | like graphic design and publishing. For the younger |
| up of several parts. There will be a box sitting on | | | | crowd, a personal computer can also be used to |
| your desk, black, gray or beige in color. This is | | | | listen to music, watch movies or play detailed |
| your actual computer, containing everything from | | | | video games. |
| the microprocessor to the memory, the storage | | | | The basic elements of your personal computer |
| to the input/output devices. You can't work with | | | | that you choose, like the processor, amount of |
| just the "computer" alone, though. There are | | | | RAM, floppy or CD-Rom disk drives, hard disk |
| accessories that go along with your computer like | | | | drive, sound card, speakers, monitor, modem and |
| the monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. | | | | graphics card will be determined by what kind of |
| Other attachments you might find are printers | | | | computer user you plan to be. Heavy users of |
| and digital video cameras. | | | | complex programs will need much more "stuff" on |
| If you want to buy a computer, it is good to | | | | their computer than the average computer user. |
| know that there are two separate categories of | | | | Once you've determined how much of everything |
| computers: PCs and Macs. | | | | you need, you will be able to calculate an average |
| - A PC is a computer modeled after components | | | | cost for the computer you want. |