Lecture - 1
Computer Systems and Programs
Computer is an electronic device that accepts data, process it according to present instructions and produces useful information that human being can use to make business decisions.
- A computer system consists of hardware and software components.
- Hardware is the physical equipment that you can see and touch such as the case, floppy disk drives, keyboard, monitor, cables, speakers, and printers.
- Software describes the programs that are used to operate the computer system. Computer software, also called programs, instructs the computer on how to operate.
- Application software accepts input from the user and then manipulates it to achieve the output.
- Examples of applications include word processors, database programs, spreadsheets, web browsers, web development tools, and graphic design tools.
- An Operating System (OS) is a program that manages all the other programs in a computer. It also provides the operating environment with the applications that are used to access resources on the computer.
- Examples of operating systems include The Disk Operating System (DOS), Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Linux, Mac OS X, DEC VMS, and IBM OS/400.
- Operating systems are platform-specific.
- The Windows operating system (3.1, 95, 98, 2000, or NT) is designed for use with a PC.
- The Mac OS will only work with Macintosh computers.
- PC and Macintosh are called platforms. A platform is the computer system on which programs can run.
- There are two computer types, Mainframes and PCs.
- Mainframes are powerful machines that allow companies to automate manual tasks, shorten the time to market for new products, and run financial models that enhance profitability, etc.