Hardware and Software parts of a Computer

Before we talk about different types of computers, let's talk about two things all computers have in common: hardware and software.

Hardware Parts

Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard or mouse. It also includes all of the computer's internal parts, which you can see in the image below.

Now lets look at common computer hardware;

Input Devices

An input device is any hardware component that allows you the user to enter data into the computer.
There are many input devices. Five of the most widely used input devices are:

• A keyboard - You use the keyboard to type letters, numbers,and symbols into the computer.
• A mouse - The mouse is a pointing device that has a pointer that changes into different shapes as you use the mouse. You click the mouse by pressing and releasing the button. This action allows you to enter data when using a mouse.
• A scanner - This input device copies from paper into your computer by converting them in image.
• A microphone - The microphone is usually used for voice input into the computer.
• A PC video camera - The PC video camera allows you take both video and still images that you can input onto your computer.

Output Devices

An output device is any hardware component that gives information to the user. Three commonly used output devices are as follow:

•  A monitor - This output device displays your information on a screen,
• A speaker - Sound is the type of output you will get from a speaker
• A printer - This output device prints information on paper. This type of printed output is called a hard copy

Processing

Processing devices are used to process data using program instructions. Examples;

• CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The CPU is a silicon chip which contains thousands of electronic circuits. Has a fan to keep it cool. The chip is also known as a microprocessor. The CPU processes the data in the computer – it "does the work" or "produces information", It sends messages to and from the input devices, output devices and storage devices. The more Megahertz or Gigahertz (the speed at which the processor works), the more powerful the CPU and the faster it can work.

• The motherboard - The PC‘s main printed circuit board which is located inside the System Unit. The motherboard houses the processor (CPU), memory (RAM), buses (along which bits of data travel) and other components eg graphic cards, sound cards, PCI cards (used for peripherals like scanners) to plug into

Storage Devices

Alternatively referred to as digital storage, storage, storage media, or storage medium, a storage device is any hardware capable of holding information either temporarily or
permanently. There are two types of storage devices used with computers: 

• A primary storage device, also known as main storage or memory, is the area in a computer in which data is stored for quick access by the computer's processor. The terms random access memory (RAM) and memory are often as synonyms for primary or main storage. Primary storage is volatile (volatile is used to describe memory content that is lost when the power is interrupted or switched off).

• A secondary storage device, like a hard drive. Secondary storage can be removable, internal, or external storage. Secondary storage, sometimes called auxiliary storage or external storage, is non-volatile (is a form of static memory whose contents are saved when a computer is turned off or loses its external power source) storage that is not under the direct control of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) or does not directly interact with an application.

Software Parts

The computer will not work without software. Software also call programs are the instructions that tell the computer what to do and how o do it. The two main categories of software are system software and application software

System Software

The system software also called the operating system (OS) actually runs the computer. This software controls all the operations of the computer and its devices. All computers use system software and without the system software the application software will not work. The most common OS on a PC is the Windows operating system and for the Mac computer it would be the Mac operating system. There are other OS is Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora etc)

Application System

Application software is a program that allows users to a specific task on the computer. There are a number of different types of application software available to do many of the tasks we do daily. Examples;

• Word Processing Application: One word processing program is Microsoft Word. This program allows you to type letters, assignments and do any other written activity on the computer.
• E-mail Application: Outlook Express is an e-mail program that allows you to receive and send e-mails.
• Internet Application: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox are programs that allows you to get connected to the Internet and look at Blogs like the one you are reading now.
• Spreadsheet Application: Microsoft Excel is an example of a spreadsheet program. One can use this program to create charts and do calculations.