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Computer Hardware
Are
you somewhat new to computers or are there bits of terminology that have
always confused you a bit like -- what is the difference betweent RAM
and ROM? This section focuses on some common pieces of the computer puzzle.
Want the whole story? Try
reading our equipment overview!
CD-ROM
Drives: Serving Up More Than Music
CD-ROM, or Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, drives
work with optical CD-ROM disks that are capable of containing significant
amounts of data. The most common amount that a CD-ROM can hold is 650
megabytes.
Basically, that's the equivalent of over 500 high-density floppy
disks. Quite a lot for a small, round, thin piece of metal. CD-ROMs
are "burned" by the person or company that puts the information
on the disk. Burning means that...read
more
Hard
Drives: Not Hard to Understand
A hard drive is what contains the ROM
(Read Only Memory) that stores the many files and programs that you have
on your computer system. A hard drive is nonvolatile. This means that,
when you turn your machine off, the data stays in the machine. Your RAM
(Random Access Memory) is volatile memory which means that when the computer's
turned off, the information is gone. Hard drives are actually very similar
to...read more
Monitors
Make a Big Difference
 A
monitor is the most visual part of a computer system. We see it first
and stare at it for much of the day. It provides a window into the Internet
or into the workings of a computer. But, are they all the same? Hardly
— as anyone who has gone through a catalog or visited a computer
showroom can attest. A monitor is quite simply the term that we give for
a display screen and the outer shell that contains it. There are several
different ways...read
more
Macs
vs Windows: Not Just Different Mice
Most any designer that you
talk to will tell you that they prefer the Macintosh operating system
over the Windows one. At one time, Macintosh systems were far more intuitive
and easier to understand than they are today. Few non-designers questioned
the preference and many wished that they too could work on a Macintosh
system. Since Windows 95 (and later releases), the Windows and Macintosh
operating systems have become similar, at least in outward appearance.
So, if the two appear to be so similar, why do designers still use Macs?
Wouldn't it be easier to just...read
more
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