Chapter 4: Business Hardware

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Objectives
List major hardware components of computers and explain their functions Classify computers into major categories, and identify their strengths and weaknesses Identify and evaluate key criteria for deciding what computers or related devices to purchase Discuss the possible health hazards of computer use

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Hardware Components
Hardware: physical computer components Consider software before hardware Computer must handle four operations
Accept data Store data Process data Output data

Input devices: receive signals from outside of computer and transfer them into computer
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Hardware Components (continued)

Figure 4.1: All computers have the same basic components

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Hardware Components (continued)

Central processing unit
Accepts instructions and data Decodes and executes instructions Stores output in memory

Internal memory: stores data and instructions before and after CPU processes them
RAM: random access memory ROM: read-only memory

Motherboard: CPU and primary memory reside

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Hardware Components (continued)

External Memory: magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, optical discs, DVDs, and flash memory
Allows permanent storage

Output devices: deliver information from computer to person

Most commonly monitors and printers Includes audio devices

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Hardware Components (continued)

Bit: Binary digit
0 or 1

Byte: a standard group of eight bits

Most characters represented by single byte

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Hardware Components (continued)

Figure 4.2: Measuring amounts of digital data

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Classification of Computers
Computers vary in size Classified by power
Depends on processing speed and memory size

More powerful computers are more expensive

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Supercomputers
Supercomputers: most powerful computer at any given time
Largest in physical size and most expensive

Parallel processing: multiple processors running simultaneously

Also known as multiprocessing

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Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computers: store large amounts of data and business transactions
Less expensive and less powerful than supercomputers Banks, universities, and insurance companies use them as a central computer 40-50% of worlds business data resides on mainframes Use multiple processors

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Midrange computers
Midrange computers: often act as servers within organizations or through the Internet
Smaller and less powerful than mainframes Serves hundred of users that connect from personal computers Use multiple processors

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Microcomputers
Microcomputers: personal computers, notebook computers, and handhelds Workstation: more powerful microcomputer used for CAD, CAM, and scientific applications Power doubles about every two years

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Computers on the Go: Notebook, Handheld, and Tablet Computers

Notebook computer: compact personal computer powered by rechargeable battery New models include wireless technology Personal digital assistant: handheld computer Stylus used to enter data through touch screen Tablet computer: PC on a thick writing tablet

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Converging Technologies
Technology convergence: build several technologies into single piece of hardware
Prominent in handheld units

Commonly merged technologies include

Cell phones Television Digital cameras MP3 players

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A Peek Inside the Computer

Professionals must know computer components to understand its power and capabilities Use the knowledge to make good decisions in purchasing a computer

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The Central Processing Unit

CPU has two units to store and process data
Control unit and arithmetic logic unit

CPU is silicon chip with multiple circuits Also known as microprocessor Modern processors can do multithreading
Processing more than one program at a time

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The Central Processing Unit (continued)

Microprocessors are embedded with transistors Transistor is a semiconductor that can represent binary codes two states Machine Cycle (CPU):
Fetch, decode execute each instruction

Data word: maximum number of bits that the control unit can fetch Arithmetic Logic Unit: arithmetic and logic

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The Central Processing Unit (continued)

Figure 4.3: What happens inside the CPU in one machine cycle

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Computer Power
Computer power depends on processing speed and memory capacity Bus: electronic lines or traces used for communication inside computer Throughput: number of bits per second bus can accommodate MIPS: millions of instructions per second, a common measure of computer speed

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Input Devices
Computers must receive input to produce output Input devices include machines used to enter instructions and data into computer Most common input device is keyboard

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Keyboard
Contains keys that users press to enter data Includes letters, numbers, and punctuation QWERTY and Dvorak: QWERTY standard
Dvorak facilitates faster typing

Ergonomic keyboard: fits the natural position of forearms and prevents injury

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Mouse, Trackball, and Trackpad

Mouse: controls onscreen pointer to facilitate point-and-click approach Trackball: similar to mouse, but ball moves within device Trackpad: cursor controlled by touch-sensitive pad Mice and similar devices can be wireless units

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Touch Screen
Touch screen: both input and output device
Often used for public applications Prevalent in handheld devices

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Source Data Input Devices

Source data input devices: copy data directly from source
Bar-codes, credit cards, and checks

Use optical recognition devices, which detect positions of marks or characters Magnetic-ink character recognition: detects magnetic ink on checks

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Source Data Input Devices (continued)

Figure 4.5: Banks use magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) to automate part of check clearing

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Imaging
Imaging: converting documents into images
Saves paper More efficient retrieval and filing

Scanned document can be destroyed after scan

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Speech Recognition
Translating human speech into computerreadable data and instructions Receive input from microphone and process with software May increase noise level in offices

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Output Devices
Most popular devices are monitors and printers Other output includes speakers In the future, smell output is possible

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Monitors
Cathode-ray tube: inner side of screen has layer of phosphoric dots called pixels
Electron gun receives instructions from computer and sweeps the pixels

Flat-panel monitor: includes liquid crystal display, which uses a liquid crystal filled screen, whose molecules align in different places when given electric charge

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Printers
Nonimpact printer: does not mechanically impact the paper
Laser printer is most common in business Others: ink-jet and electrothermal printers

Impact printers: reproduce image by using mechanical impact

Dot-matrix printer has pins that strike ink ribbon against paper

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Storage Media
Data must be stored on nonvolatile medium
Data is retained even when not powered

Storage devices differ in technology used to maintain data and physical structure

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Modes of Access
Sequential storage: data is organized one record after another
Slower and less convenient

Direct access: records are organized by physical address on the device Flash drives: small storage devices that connect via universal serial bus Direct access storage media is only practical way to organize and query databases

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Modes of Access (continued)

Figure 4.6: Sequential and direct access

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Magnetic Tapes
Magnetic tapes: similar to tape recorders and VCRs
Provide lowest cost (bytes per dollar) Can backup all data Takes long time to copy from tape Unreliable after a long period of time

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Magnetic Disks
Magnetic disk: most widely used storage medium Hard disk: stack of several aluminum platters installed in same box that holds CPU
Stores up to 500 GB of data External hard disks connect to computer through USB port

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Optical Discs
Optical disc: recorded by treating disc surface to reflect light in different ways Compact discs: available as read-only, recordable, and rewritable DVDs: store 4.7 GB per side Optical discs are slower than hard disks

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Optical Tape
Optical tape uses same technology as optical discs to store and retrieve data Bits are organized sequentially like tape Used in digital video camcorders

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Flash Memory
Flash memory: memory chip that can be rewritten and holds content without power Available as memory card and USB drive Solid state disk: storage media that does not have latency time

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DAS, NAS, and SAN

Direct access storage: disk or array of disks directly connected to server Network-attached storage: device designed for networked storage Storage area network: network fully devoted to storage and transfer of data DAS, NAS, and SAN utilize RAID, redundant array of independent disks

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Business Considerations in Evaluating Storage Media

When purchasing storage devices managers must consider:
How the data is used Capacity of the device Speed and cost Reliability and portability

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Business Considerations in Evaluating Storage Media (continued)

Figure 4.7: Characteristics of storage media for business purposes

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Considerations in Purchasing Hardware

Companies must consider the following when deciding what to purchase:
Power of the equipment Expansion slots and ports Monitor type and resolution Ergonomics

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Considerations in Purchasing Hardware (continued)

Other factors include:
Compatibility with existing hardware Physical size of computer Reliability of vendor Power consumption and noise

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Considerations in Purchasing Hardware (continued)

Figure 4.8: Example of a hardware evaluation form

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Scalability and Updating Hardware

Scalability: resources can be expanded or upgraded to provide increased power Not all hardware is scalable Leasing hardware is a valid option to avoid short useful lifetime of hardware

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Summary
Understanding hardware is important for purchasing decisions Computers classified according to power All computers have CPU to process instructions Clock rate measures the speed of a CPU Computer word is the number of bits it can process in a single cycle

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Summary (continued)
Computer power: speed and memory size RAM is volatile memory that forms a large part of computers memory ROM is nonvolatile: does not require power Imaging devices help process text and graphics When evaluating external storage, consider density, transfer rate, capacity, portability, format

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Summary (continued)
Data organized sequentially on tapes Direct access storage devices include RAM, magnetic disks, and optical discs Databases require direct access storage devices When purchasing hardware, managers should consider power, scalability, and compatibility Information technology may pose health risks such as carpel tunnel syndrome

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