How do I connect a computer? Setting up a computer. Connecting Devices to a Computer Connecting a Bluetooth Device Using Fast Link

To connect a new device, open the menu with a list of equipment with which the computer is already working. To do this, run the command Start > Control Panel... In the window that opens, select a category Hardware and Sound and paragraph Devices and Printers- a window will appear with the equipment that is already connected and ready to use.

Review and, if necessary, edit the parameters for each device. To do this, right-click on its icon and select the item Properties.

Make sure that the list of installed equipment does not contain the device you want to connect. It happens that several users are working at the computer and the necessary device is already installed.

After reviewing the list of equipment you are using, start connecting a new device to your computer.

1. Make sure the device cable is securely connected to the correct connector on the system unit. If the device has an on / off button, set it to run mode.
2. In the window with the list of equipment, click the Add device button, which is located under the main menu, and the window of the same name will open.
3. Immediately after opening this window, the system will notify you about the search for new equipment. A list of devices connected but not yet ready for use will then be displayed.
4. Click on the icon of the device you want to connect and press the button Further.
5. Follow the system prompts. Your actions will be approximately the same regardless of what device you install (however, some peculiarities may be present). Their algorithm is simple and straightforward, especially since as the installation progresses, the system displays not only relevant messages, but also hints.

How to remove a device from your computer

If you do not intend to use the device anymore, remove it. To do this, you must not only disconnect the cable, but also uninstall the driver so that it does not take up extra disk space.

Sometimes this is necessary for its subsequent reinstallation: some software or hardware failures are successfully corrected in this way. The driver must also be removed if it conflicts with other installed software. There may be other reasons for uninstalling - a lot is determined by how they work on the computer, what tasks they solve and what software they use.

Follow these steps to uninstall the driver.

1. Open the window with a list of equipment.
2. Right-click on the icon of the device whose driver you want to uninstall.
3. Select a team Delete devices context menu.

The uninstallation will begin immediately after an affirmative answer to the additional confirmation request issued by the operating system.

Peripheral (external) devices of a personal computer are connected to its interfaces and are designed to perform auxiliary operations. Thanks to these devices, the computer system gains flexibility and versatility.

By purpose, peripheral devices can be subdivided into:

• data input devices;
• data output devices;
• storage devices;
• data exchange devices.

Data input devices

Keyboard

Keyboard- keyboard control device for a personal computer. Serves for input alphanumeric (signed) data, as well as control commands.

The combination of monitor and keyboard provides the simplest user interface. A keyboard is used to control a computer system, and a monitor is used to get a response from it.

Keyboard composition
The standard keyboard has over 100 keys, functionally divided into several groups.

Rice. 1. General view of the standard keyboard

Group alphanumeric keys is intended for entering symbolic information and commands typed by letters. Each key can operate in several modes (registers) and, accordingly, can be used to enter multiple characters. Switch between lowercase (for lowercase characters) and uppercase (to enter uppercase characters) perform by holding down the key SHIFT(non-fixed switching). If you need to hard switch the case, use the key CAPS LOCK(fixed switching). If the keyboard is used for data entry, the paragraph is closed by pressing the key ENTER, This automatically starts typing on a new line. If the keyboard is used to enter commands, press ENTER completes the command input and starts its execution.

Rice. 2. Group of alphanumeric keys

For different languages, there are different schemes for assigning symbols of national alphabets to specific alphanumeric keys. Such schemes are called keyboard layouts. Switching between different layouts is performed programmatically - this is one of the functions of the operating system. Accordingly, the switching method depends on which operating system the computer is running on. For example, in Windows 2000, the following combinations can be used for this purpose: left key ALT + SHIFT or CTRL + SHIFT... When working with another operating system, the switching method can be set using the help system of the program that performs the switching.

Common keyboard layouts have their roots in typewriter keyboard layouts. For personal computers IBM PC QWERTY (English) and QWERTY (Russian) layouts are considered typical. Layouts are usually named according to the symbols assigned to the first keys of the upper line of the alphabet group.

Group function keys includes twelve keys (from F1 before F12) located at the top of the keyboard. The functions assigned to these keys depend on the properties of the specific program currently running, and in some cases, on the properties of the operating system. It is generally accepted for most programs that the key F1 brings up the help system, where you can find help on the operation of the other keys.

Rice. 3. Group of function keys

Service keys located next to the keys of the alphanumeric group. Due to the fact that they have to be used especially often, they are oversized. These include the keys discussed above. SHIFT and ENTER, register keys ALT and CTRL(they are used in combination with other keys to form commands), key TAB(for entering tab stops when typing), key ESC(from the English word Escape) to cancel the execution of the last command entered and the key BACKSPACE to delete the characters just entered (it is located above the key ENTER and is often marked with an arrow pointing to the left).

Rice. 4. Group of service keys

Service keys PRINT SCREEN, SCROLL LOCK and PAUSE / BREAK are located to the right of the function key group and perform specific functions depending on the operating system in use. The following actions are generally accepted:

PRINT SCREEN- printing the current state of the screen on the printer (for MS-DOS) or storing it in a special area of ​​RAM called clipboard (for Windows).

SCROLL LOCK- switching the operating mode in some (usually outdated) programs.

PAUSE / BREAK- pause / interrupt the current process.

Two group cursor keys located to the right of the alphanumeric panel.

Cursor is called a screen element indicating the place of input of character information. The cursor is used when working with programs that enter data and commands from the keyboard.

The cursor keys allow you to control the input position.

^ Rice. 5. Groups of cursor control keys

The four arrow keys move the cursor in the direction of the arrow. The other keys are described below.

PAGE UP/ PAGE DOWN- move the cursor one page up or down. The term “page” usually refers to the portion of the document that is visible on the screen. On graphical operating systems (eg Windows), these keys scroll through the content in the current window. The action of these keys in many programs can be modified using the service register keys, primarily SHIFT and CTRL... The exact result of the modification depends on the specific program and / or operating system.

Keys HOME and END move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line, respectively. Their action is also modified by the register keys.

Traditional key assignment INSERT consists in switching the data input mode (switching between modes inserts and replacements). If the text cursor is inside an existing text, then in the insert mode, new characters are entered without replacing existing characters (the text seems to expand). In overwrite mode, new characters replace the text previously at the entry position.

In modern programs, the key action INSERT may be different. Specific information should be obtained in the help system of the program. It is possible that the action of this key is customizable - it also depends on the properties of a particular program.

Key DELETE is designed to delete characters to the right of the current cursor position. The position of the insertion position remains unchanged.

^ Group additional panel keys duplicates the action of the number and some iconic keys of the main panel. In many cases, to use this group of keys, you must first enable the toggle key. NUM LOCK(about the state of the switches NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK and ^ SCROLL LOCK can be judged by the LED indicators, usually located in the upper right corner of the keyboard).

Rice. 6. Group of keys of the additional panel

The appearance of the additional keyboard panel dates back to the early 80s. At the time, keyboards were relatively expensive devices. The original purpose of the additional panel was to reduce wear on the main panel when carrying out cash and settlement calculations, as well as when controlling computer games (with the switch off NUM LOCK optional panel keys can be used as cursor keys).

How the keyboard works
The keyboard belongs to the standard means of a personal computer. Its main functions do not need to be supported by special system programs (drivers). The necessary software to start working with a computer is already available in the read-only memory chip as part of the basic I / O system (BIOS), and therefore the computer responds to keystrokes immediately after being turned on.

The principle of operation of the keyboard is as follows.

1. When you press a key (or key combination), a special microcircuit built into the keyboard gives out the so-called osp-code.
2. The scan code enters the microcircuit that performs the functions port keyboard. (Ports are special hardware-logical devices responsible for communication between the processor and other devices.) This microcircuit is located on the main board of the computer inside the system unit.
3. The keyboard port issues a fixed interrupt to the processor. For the keyboard, the interrupt number is 9 (Interrupt 9, Int 9).
4. Having received an interrupt, the processor postpones the current work and, according to the interrupt number, refers to a special area of ​​RAM, in which the so-called interrupt vector. An interrupt vector is a fixed-length list of address data. Each record contains the address of the program that should service the interrupt with the number that matches the record number.
5. Having determined the address of the beginning of the program handling the arisen interrupt, the processor proceeds to its execution. The simplest program for processing a keyboard interrupt is "hardcoded" into a ROM microcircuit, but programmers can "substitute" their own program for it if they change the data in the interrupt vector.
6. The interrupt handler program directs the processor to the keyboard port, where it finds the scan code, loads it into its registers, then, under the control of the handler, determines which character code corresponds to the given scan code.
7. Next, the interrupt handler sends the received character code to a small area of ​​memory known as keyboard buffer, and stops its work, notifying the processor.
8. The processor stops processing the interrupt and returns to the pending task.
9. The entered character is stored in the keyboard buffer until it is retrieved from there by the program for which it was intended, for example, a text editor or word processor. If characters arrive in the buffer more often than they are taken from there, a buffer overflow effect occurs. In this case, the input of new characters is stopped for a while. In practice, at this point, when a key is pressed, we hear a warning beep and do not observe data entry.

Special keyboards

The keyboard is the main input device. Special keyboards are designed to improve the efficiency of the data entry process. This is achieved by changing the shape of the keyboard, the layout of its keys, or the method of connecting to the system unit.

Keyboards that have a special shape, designed taking into account the requirements of ergonomics, are called ergonomic keyboards. It is advisable to use them at workplaces designed to enter a large amount of symbolic information. Ergonomic keyboards not only improve typing performance and reduce overall fatigue during the working day, but also reduce the likelihood and severity of a number of conditions, such as tunnel syndrome of the hands and osteochondrosis of the upper spine.

The key layout of standard keyboards is far from optimal. It has survived from the earliest examples of mechanical typewriters. Currently, there is a technical possibility of manufacturing keyboards with an optimized layout, and there are samples of such devices (in particular, these include Dvorak keyboard). However, the practical implementation of keyboards with a non-standard layout is questionable due to the fact that it is necessary to learn to work with them on purpose. In practice, only specialized workstations are equipped with such keyboards.

By the method of connection to the system unit, a distinction is made between wired and wireless keyboard. The transmission of information in wireless systems is carried out by an infrared beam. The typical range of such keyboards is several meters. The signal source is the keyboard.

Examples of different types of keyboards

Standard wireless keyboard

Non-contact keyboard Using switches controlled by magnetic field and radiation. When controlling the field of the magnet, the switching effect is achieved by changing the resistance of the magnetoresistive element or the Hall sensor

Optoelectronic keyboard With optoelectronic sensors, in which, by pressing the key, a shutter is introduced between the radiation source (light) and the receiver (eg photoresistor). The dampers can have code holes and, with multi-element receivers, it allows you to immediately obtain a binary code of a character by combining a key with a decoder. They are similar in character to magnetic switches.

Touch keyboard They have no moving parts and only require a touch of the fingers. This requires a certain skill. At the KU, the feedback is closed either through an indicator or through a sound signal. The principle of operation is based on the fact that at the moment of touching the contact pads, the capacitance in the electrical circuit and the static potential on it change, which is amplified by a special circuit and at its output a signal is generated similar to pressing a key on a mechanical keyboard.

Keyboard with interchangeable pushbutton layouts
As conceived by the creators, Zboard should greatly facilitate the life and wallet of computer owners, simultaneously relieving them of the need to memorize numerous "special" key combinations. The keyboard is designed primarily for home users, although it can also come in handy for those using a computer as a professional tool. On the right side of the keyboard is a seemingly inconspicuous latch. It can be easily folded back, the panel with the keys can be removed, folded in three (that's why the spacebar is double), placed in a case the size of a paperback book and placed on the shelf. A number of similar cases with keys for other uses are already waiting on the shelf.

The selected interchangeable cover is installed on the keyboard base, the latch closes, the corresponding indicator lights up and the brand new keyboard is ready to use.

The device driver will independently find out which plug-in module is placed in the base and will quickly redefine the location of each key, update the shortcuts and connect the corresponding macros used for the required game or business application.

The most convenient unusual and individual keyboard layout turns out to be in games. This is achieved by a well-thought-out arrangement, shape and designation of control keys, which significantly speeds up learning to play and facilitates its successful passage.

Now many of the possibilities hidden somewhere in the depths of the menu can be realized with a single keystroke. In addition, there is no need to memorize special control keys of a given game, which, as a rule, are not too similar to similar combinations of symbols in another game program.

Key layouts for different games

Keymap for Adobe Photoshop

Entering graphic information

To enter graphic information, use:

• scanners
• graphic tablets (digitizers)
• digital cameras.

Scanners

Scanner- a device for copying graphic and text information and entering it into a computer.

With the help of scanners, you can also enter character information. In this case, the source material is entered in a graphical form, after which it is processed by special software. (pattern recognition programs).

Flatbed scanners
Designed to enter graphic information from transparent or opaque sheet material. The principle of operation of these devices is that a beam of light reflected from the surface of the material (or passed through a transparent material) is fixed by special elements called charge-coupled devices (CCD). Usually, CCD elements are structurally designed in the form of a ruler located along the width of the source material. Moving the ruler relative to the sheet of paper is performed by mechanically pulling the ruler when the sheet is stationary or by pulling the sheet when the ruler is stationary.

Hand-held scanners
The principle of operation of hand-held scanners is basically the same as for flatbed scanners. The difference is that the CCD line is pulled manually in this case. At the same time, the uniformity and accuracy of scanning are provided unsatisfactorily, and the resolution of the hand-held scanner is 150-300 dpi.

Drum scanners
In this type of scanners, the raw material is fixed on the cylindrical surface of a drum rotating at high speed. Devices of this type provide the highest resolution (2400-5000 dpi) due to the use of photomultiplier tubes rather than CCDs. They are used to scan source images of high quality, but insufficient linear dimensions (photo negatives, slides, etc.)

Photo scanners
Serves for obtaining images from slides or photographic films. The scanner has removable cartridges for refilling slides or films.

Barcode scanners
This type of handheld scanner is designed to enter data encoded in the form of a barcode. Such devices are used in retail trade.

Form scanners
Designed for data entry from standard forms filled out mechanically or
Form scanners do not require high scanning accuracy, but speed plays an increased role and is the main consumer parameter.

Digitizers

Digitizer - a device for digitizing drawings and other images. A digitizer allows you to digitize images for processing in a computer.

Digital cameras

Digital camera - this is a camera that records an image not on a photographic film, but on a receiving screen - an iconoscope.

The iconoscope image is digitized and stored in the camera's memory. Depending on the storage media used, the camera can store from a few frames to tens of frames. After shooting, the camera is connected to the computer and the frames are transferred to the computer as files.

DSCU30	DSC-U60	DSC-P92
MVC-CD350	MVC-CD500	DSCF717

Digital cameras, Like scanners, these devices capture graphical data using CCD devices combined in a rectangular array. The main parameter of digital cameras is the resolution, which is directly related to the number of CCD cells in the matrix. The best consumer models currently have up to 1 million CCD cells and, accordingly, provide an image resolution of up to 2700x2050 pixels. For professional models, these parameters are higher.

Light pencil

Light pencil is a device that resembles an ordinary fountain pen with a wire. At the end of the handle there is a light receiver that can register changes in the brightness of the points on the screen.
You can point and manipulate elements of the screen with the light pen. For example, you can paint. An analogue of the light pen - the light gun is used in game consoles.
Rice. 7. Light pencil

Output devices

Monitor

Monitor- a device for visual presentation of data. This is not the only possible, but the main output device. Its main consumer parameters are: screen mask size and pitch, maximum image refresh rate, protection class.

Monitor size measured diagonally between opposite corners of the CRT tube. The unit of measurement is inches. Standard sizes: 14 "(symbol" means inch); 15 "; 17"; 19 "; 20"; 21 ".

The image on the monitor screen is obtained as a result of irradiation of the phosphor coating with a sharply directed beam of electrons dispersed in a vacuum flask. To obtain a color image, the phosphor coating has dots or stripes of three types, glowing in red, green and blue. To ensure that all three beams converge strictly to one point on the screen and the image is clear, a mask is placed in front of the phosphor - a panel with regularly spaced holes or slots. Some monitors are equipped with a vertical wire mask, which enhances the brightness and saturation of the image. The smaller the pitch between holes or slots (mask step), the clearer and more accurate the resulting image. The step of the mask is measured in fractions of a millimeter. Currently, the most common monitors with a mask pitch of 0.25-0.27 mm. Outdated monitors can have a pitch of up to 0.43 mm, which negatively affects the organs of vision when working with a computer. Higher priced models may have a value less than 0.25 mm.

Refresh rate (refresh) image shows how many times in a second the monitor can completely change the image (therefore it is also called frame rate). This parameter depends not only on the monitor, but also on the properties and settings video adapter , although the maximum possibilities are determined by the monitor.

The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz). The higher it is, the clearer and more stable the image, the less eye fatigue, the more time you can work with the computer continuously. With a refresh rate of about 60 Hz, small image flickering is noticeable to the naked eye. This value is considered unacceptable today. The minimum value is 75 Hz, the norm is 85 Hz and the comfortable value is 100 Hz or more.

Protection class the monitor is defined by the standard that the monitor complies with in terms of safety requirements. Currently, the following international standards are considered generally recognized: ^ MPR-II, TSO-92, GSO-95, GSO-99 (shown in chronological order). Standard MPR-II limited the levels of electromagnetic radiation to limits that are safe for humans. In the standard TSO-92 these norms were retained, and in the standards GSO-95 and GSO-99 they were toughened. Ergonomic and environmental standards first appeared in the GSO-95 standard, and the GSO-99 standard established the most stringent standards for the parameters that determine the image quality (brightness, contrast, flicker, anti-reflective properties of the coating).

At this point in time, the most common monitors are monitors equipped with cathode ray tubes, however, liquid crystal monitors (LCD - Liquid Crystal Display) are increasingly used.

Rice. 8. Different types of monitors

Touch screen- serves to control the computer by touching the screen with your fingers. Typically, the touchscreen is used in reference computers in museums, exhibitions, train stations and airports.

The touch screen can be built into a regular monitor or placed on top of the monitor screen, in which case it connects to one of the ports on the computer. The resolution of the touch screen is low. The smallest touchscreen element is 1 / 256th of the screen.

There are two technologies for creating touch screens:

1. Capacitive touch screen - fixing the change in electrical capacitance when a finger touches the screen (they are more widely used).
2. Emitters of infrared or ultraviolet light are located on two perpendicular sides of the touch screen, and receivers of this radiation are located on two opposite sides. When the finger obscures the invisible rays, it is detected by the receivers.

Touch screens are widely used in handheld computers.

Loudspeakers

Speakers are needed to output sound from the computer. Computer speakers are active, since the signal level at the output from the sound card is weak and requires amplification. The choice of computer speakers is quite wide. Sometimes, instead of speakers, they connect the line-in of the music center. You can connect the speakers and the center at the same time through a special device - a splitter.

Printers

As output devices, printing devices (printers) are also used, which make it possible to obtain copies of documents on paper or transparent media.

Printer, or a printing device designed to output information on paper. All modern printers can output text information as well as drawings and other images.

There are several thousand printer models that can be used with personal computers, all of which can be divided into four main types - dot matrix, inkjet, laser and photodiode.

Dot Matrix Printers
Previously, they were the most common, but now they are being supplanted by inkjet and laser.

The principle of printing with these printers is as follows: the print head of the printer contains a vertical row of thin metal rods (called pins). The head moves along the printed line, and the needles strike the paper through the ink ribbon at the right time. This ensures the formation of symbols and images on paper. The movement of the needles is controlled by miniature electromagnets. Low-cost printers use a 9-pin print head. The print quality of these printers is poor. Better quality printing is provided by printers with 18 and 24 pins.

Inkjet printers
In these printers, the image is formed by microscopic droplets of ink flying onto the paper through small holes. Piezo crystals are used as elements for ejecting ink streams. Piezo crystals tend to expand when supplied with electricity. Piezo crystals are installed in the print head in such a way that they expand in the direction in which ink droplets should fly out. This printing method provides higher print quality than dot matrix printers and is very convenient for color printing.

Resolution inkjet printers - 300 dots per inch, i.e. one inch (1 inch = 2.54 cm) accommodates 300 distinct dots. This characteristic shows the size of the point. The higher the resolution, the smaller the dot, and the better the image.

Laser printers
They currently provide the best (often better than typographic) print quality. These printers use a computer-controlled laser beam to print.

A laser printer has a roller coated with a semiconductor substance that is electrified by the laser light. The beam is directed with the help of a rotating mirror to the place of the roller where the image should be. This place is electrified and the smallest particles of dry paint, which is in the container under the roller, "stick" to it. After that, the roller is rolled over a sheet of paper and the ink is transferred to the paper. To fix the coloring powder, a special mechanism guides the paper through the heating element and the paint is sintered.

Photo printers
With the advent of digital cameras, it became necessary to use them not only for creating digital photo images, but also for printing ordinary paper photographs. Sublimation printers have been developed for this purpose. Sublimation printing technology has previously been used in color copiers.

In sublimation printers, the dye powder is applied in the same way as in photodiode printers, but then, using heating elements, each particle of the powder melts and bakes very quickly. The result is a clear, bright image. Printing is carried out on paper similar in composition to ordinary photographic paper, but without a gelatinous layer. Paper for photo printers is matte and glossy.

The image file is fed into the photo printer from a computer or directly from a flash memory card. The printers have corresponding ports for flash memory cards, for example, on the HP Photosmart 7550 Photo Printer shown below, you can see the flash card ports at the top right and a card inserted into one of the four ports.

Plotter

Plotter(Plotter) or plotter - a device for displaying various drawings, maps, posters and other images on large paper.
Plotters are monochrome and color. According to the technology of drawing the image, plotters are divided into pen and inkjet.
Large industrial plotters

Command control devices

Mouse

Mouse- manipulator-type control device. It is a flat box with two or three buttons.

Mouse movement on a flat surface is synchronized with movement of the graphic object (mouse pointer) on the monitor screen.

In addition to the usual mouse, there are other types of manipulators, for example: trackballs, penmouths, infrared mice.

Trackball unlike a mouse, it is installed permanently, and its ball is set in motion by the palm of the hand. The advantage of the trackball is that it does not need a smooth work surface, which is why trackballs are widely used in portable personal computers.

Penmaus is an analogue of a ballpoint pen, at the end of which, instead of a writing unit, a unit is installed that records the amount of movement.

Infrared Mouse differs from the usual one by the presence of a wireless communication device with the system unit.

For computer games and in some specialized simulators, lever-push type manipulators are also used. (joysticks) and similar joy pads, gamepads and steering-pedal devices. Devices of this type are connected to a special port on the sound card, or to a port USB.

Key features of the mouse

Functionality

The simplest mice have only two buttons, but there may be models with five buttons or two scroll wheels.

Additional buttons require special support from the driver - by default Windows "understands" only three buttons, and the third (middle) is not used very effectively. Service functions are usually assigned to additional buttons - minimizing windows, launching favorite programs, etc.

Another popular control is the scroll wheel. It is usually located between the main mouse buttons. If you scroll this wheel, the current document in the editor or web browser will begin to move inside the window in the same direction. This eliminates the need to "travel" the cursor to the scroll bar and back every now and then. For those who mainly work with office documents and web pages, the scroll wheel is a good help in their work. As a rule, the wheel can not only be scrolled, but also pressed, that is, it is also the third button.

Sometimes, instead of a wheel, you can see a small lever, a rocker key or a trackball (navigation ball). However, most users still find the wheel more comfortable.

Wireless mice stand apart. Some workplaces do not allow the connection of the system unit and the mouse with a wire, even a two-meter "tail" (and more often cables with a length of 150 cm) are not long enough. In this case, manipulators connected to the system unit by radio or infrared rays will come to the rescue. The scheme of their work is always the same - a receiver is connected to the "mouse" connector of the system unit, and there is a transmitter inside the mouse. True, a wireless mouse needs power, so batteries or rechargeable batteries are usually installed in its case.

There are manipulators with an unusual set of functions, for example, with a built-in fingerprint scanner or with a speaker that plays music when a new e-mail arrives on the computer.

Design

The classic design is a symmetrical light gray body with highly rounded edges. Today you can easily buy both a classic mouse and a completely extraordinary one. In search of the most ergonomic shapes, designers sometimes create manipulators that are very far from any symmetry. Blue, silver mice are popular and widespread, and after a little searching, it is easy to buy a device of any color, translucent and even painted under a ladybug

Ergonomics

The mouse has to be comfortable. Ergonomically shaped manipulators are better suited to the human hand than symmetrical ones, but they are mainly intended for right-handers. It is simply not possible to put your left hand on it comfortably. Check - when your palm rests on the case, your fingers should be comfortably located on the buttons. It is unacceptable if you have to arch your wrist or curl your fingers in order to press a key or reach the scroll wheel.

In addition, the mouse should rest securely in your hand. This is facilitated by rubber inserts at the ends, a special shape (narrowing at the bottom), and the use of ribbed surfaces.

Also evaluate the keystrokes. It should not be too hard so that your fingers do not get tired. Pay attention to how you feel. When it is not clear whether a click has already occurred or not, this is wrong. When evaluating the scroll wheel, remember that high stiffness (resistance) will quickly tire the hand, while low stiffness will lead to excessive scrolling on the screen. The first option is worse, but the second is not very attractive either.

Interface

The mouse is connected to a personal computer using RS-232 (COM), PS / 2 and USB interfaces. The first is in every computer, the second - in any, produced in the last 4-5 years, the third - in almost any, released in 1999 and later. The most popular today is the PS / 2 interface - a special mouse driver is usually not required, the manipulator works stably in most programs and operating systems. You can also connect a mouse via USB, but this method of connection has a number of disadvantages. First, there may be compatibility issues, the USB mouse does not always behave perfectly; under Windows NT, such a manipulator will not work at all. Secondly, there are a lot of peripherals for the USB bus, but the vast majority of PCs have only 2 USB ports. If you occupy one port with a mouse, then you will have problems with the simultaneous connection of, for example, a scanner and a digital player. Therefore, for most users, PS / 2 is still the most convenient. Understanding this, most manufacturers of USB mice are equipped with a special adapter that allows their products to be connected to both a USB port and a PS / 2 port.

Storage and data exchange devices

ZIP drives

ZIP drives are manufactured by Iomega, an external storage company. The device works with disk media that are slightly larger than standard floppy disks and have a capacity of 100/250 MB. ZIP drives are available in internal and external versions. In the first case, they are connected to the motherboard's hard disk controller, and in the second, to a standard parallel port, which negatively affects the data exchange rate.

Modem

Modem - a device designed to exchange information between remote computers via communication channels is usually called a modem (MODULATOR + DEModulator). In this case, a communication channel is understood as physical lines (wired, fiber-optic, cable, radio frequency), the method of their use (switched and dedicated) and the method of data transmission (digital or analog signals). Depending on the type of communication channel, transmission and reception devices are divided into radio modems, cable modems and others. The most widely used modems are those designed to connect to dial-up telephone communication channels.

Internal modem	External modem

Streamers

Streamer(stream - long tape) - a device for recording information on magnetic tape.

The streamer is used to archive information from the hard disk.

A streamer is a tape recorder that records information at a very high speed - from units to tens of MB per second. For example, streamers manufactured by IBM in 2003 have a speed of 30 Mb / s.

The media for streamers are cassettes and tape cartridges. Cassettes have a capacity of up to 60 GB, cartridges up to 160 GB. These volumes allow you to save information from the entire hard disk to a cassette or cartridge.

Like many other devices, streamers are internal and external. Internal streamers are inserted into the same slots of the system unit as the CD-ROM, external ones are made in a separate case and are connected to the computer through an external port.

Internal streamers with cassette	External streamers with cartridges

External portable streamer	External streamer with cassette

The presence of all the elements of the system unit listed in the first part is already sufficient for the normal operation of the computer, without any of them the computer will not work! Those. if your computer has only a Case, a Power Supply, a Motherboard (with video, sound, network integration), a CPU with a cooler, RAM and Winchester, and of course a Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, then your computer will already work!

Floppy disk drive (FDD). For 2010 it is no longer relevant, but nevertheless ... The disk drive is designed to read information from a floppy disk - a magnetic drive with a volume of 720KB - 1.44 MB. Drives are differentiated in size - 3.5 "and 5.25" inches. 5.25 "disk drives have gone down in history, but 3.5" drives are still in use.

Optical drive (CD / DWD). The optical drive is designed to read or write information from / to optical discs. Drives are distinguished by the type and speed of reading / writing information, and optical discs by type and volume.
* CD-ROM drive is designed to read information from a CD-ROM or CD-R disc. CD-ROM discs with a volume of 700 MB are burned once during production and you cannot write or erase anything from such a disc.
* CD-RW drive is intended for reading information from CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW discs with a volume of 700MB, as well as writing information on CD-R and CD-RW discs, moreover, CD-RW discs are rewritable, i.e. e. You can write and erase information many times.
* DWD-R / RW drive is designed to read information from CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW disks with a volume of 700MB, DWD-R and DWD-RW disks with a volume of 4.7 - 9.4GB, as well as write information to CD-R, CD-RW, DWD-R, DWD-RW discs.

There are two more types of HD-DWD and DVD Blu-Ray drives, more precisely, there is already one - DVD Blu-ray, it won the format war and the future belongs to it. DVD Blu-ray Disc capacity can be up to 100GB!

Video card. The video card is designed to speed up graphics and reduce the load on the central processor. The video card can be either built into the motherboard or external, as a separate board. The good thing about an external video card is that it can be replaced in the event of a breakdown, but with the built-in one it is more difficult.

The video card has its own graphics processor with a cooler and memory, which can significantly reduce the load on the central processor in applications that use complex graphics (games, graphics editors ...).

Sound card. The sound card is designed to work with sound. The sound card can also be built-in or external.

Network Card. A network card is designed to connect a computer to a network, and it does not matter to a local or global (Internet). It can also be built-in or external. Sometimes you have to insert two network cards, for example, in order to connect two computers at home or in the office. To connect more than two computers to a network, you will already need a SWITCH, we will talk about this in a separate article.

Monitor. The monitor is designed to display information. What can be said about the monitor, the monitor is the face of the computer, which should delight your eyes! Therefore, when choosing a monitor, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
For CRT:
- screen size in inches (15 "- 22") - the bigger the better;
- dot size (0.32 - 0.20 mm) - for CRT monitors, the smaller the better;
- the maximum scan rate, or frame rate - the more, the better;
- maximum resolution - the more the better;
For LCD (LCD or TFT):
- screen size in inches (10 "- 30") - the bigger the better;
- point size - the distance between the centers of neighboring pixels, the smaller the better;
- format (regular and widescreen) - the ratio of width to height, for example: 4: 3, 16: 9, 16:10, 5: 4;
- contrast - the ratio of the brightness of the lightest and darkest points. Some monitors use an adaptive backlight level, the contrast figure given for them does not refer to the image contrast, the higher this figure, the better;
- brightness - the amount of light emitted by the display, usually measured in candelas per square meter, the higher this indicator, the better;
- response time - the minimum time required for a pixel to change its brightness, the less this indicator, the better;
- viewing angle - the more this indicator, the better;
- matrix type - the technology by which the LCD is made.

Keyboard. The keyboard is designed to enter textual information into a computer using alphanumeric keys, to control processes using control keys (Enter, Backspace, Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Tab, Esc, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Scroll Lock, Pause, Print Screen ), to control the cursor (->,<-, Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, Delete, Insert). Кроме того, на клавиатуре есть ещё функциональные (F1-F12) и
numeric keys (like on a calculator).

The keyboards are now available for every taste - hard, soft, large, small, special (convenient for fast typing), with various additional function keys for more convenient work on the Internet, for more convenient work with music and graphic applications, etc.

Mouse. The main purpose of the mouse is to control the cursor. There are a great many mice, like keyboards, and they differ in the following characteristics:
- in appearance - two-button, three-button, with two buttons and a wheel, with three buttons and a wheel (the third button is one press instead of two);
- by type of connection - wired, wireless;
- in size - small, medium, large;
- by the method of surface digitization - mechanical (ball), optical;
- by the method of connection to the motherboard - COM, PS / 2, USB.

A printer. The printer is designed to print out text or graphic information. There are dot matrix, inkjet and laser printers. Printers differ in the method of image formation: matrix printers knock, inkjet printers drip, laser printers bake.

Scanner. The scanner is designed to digitize and transfer information from paper to a computer. It can be either text or any graphic information. Now MFPs are more relevant - multifunctional devices. These are devices that have both a printer and a scanner in one housing. Accordingly, such a device can also be used as a copier. Those. MFP is 3 in 1: printer, scanner, copier.

Modem. A modem is a device for receiving and transmitting data over a telephone network.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). If you have power outages, then you just need a UPS - it keeps the power supply for the computer for some time after the power is turned off. During this time, you may well have time to save the data and shut down the computer correctly.

Acoustic speakers, headphones. Here, I think, everything is clear.

Webcam. This miracle of technology allows you to make a video phone from a computer, i.e. with the help of a webcam, you can see and hear each other, while being on different continents. Due to its size and low cost, the webcam is a very convenient device for creating all kinds of video conferencing, and it can also be used for organizing video surveillance.

Flash drive. Finally, we have lived to the time when you don't have to carry a whole bunch of floppy disks or disks with you, but you can just take one small but remote USB flash drive!
A flash drive is a device for storing information. Its volume can be up to 64GB!

Now you know what the computer consists of and what devices can still be connected to it.

You have a new computer and you are ready to install it, but you don’t know how. It may seem to you that this is a difficult and impossible task for beginners. In fact, everything is very simple. And it doesn't matter what company your computer is, because the connection diagram for all computers is the same.

If you want to connect a computer you just bought, which may still be in the box, then you will probably find instructions in it describing the connection process. Even if there are no instructions, you can connect your computer and peripherals in just a few simple steps. In this tutorial, you will learn step by step how to do this.

Notebook

If you have a laptop, the connection process is extremely simple: just open it and press the power button. If the battery is not charged, then external power must be connected to the laptop. You can use the laptop while it is charging.

If the laptop has some kind of peripheral devices, for example, external speakers, then you can read the instructions below, since the connection diagram of the laptop and desktop computer is basically the same.

Installing and connecting a desktop computer

Step 1

Unpack the monitor and system unit from the box. Remove all plastic protective films. Place the monitor and system unit on the table.

Think about where your workplace will be located, where the monitor, system unit, and peripheral devices will stand. It is recommended to place the system unit in a well-ventilated place. This will help prevent overheating.

Step 2

Find monitor cable... Usually this is either a VGA or DVI cable. It may look similar to the image, or blue colors. (If you have a candy bar, then you can skip to step 4).

Step 3

Connect one end of the cable to monitor port on the back of the system unit, and the second - to the monitor... Tighten the plastic screws firmly to secure the cable.

Many computer cables only connect to specific ports. Therefore, if the cable does not insert, do not use force to avoid breaking the connector. Make sure the plug fits into the port, then connect them.

To understand which cables belong to which ports, study our lesson.

Step 4

Unpack your keyboard and determine if the cable is USB (rectangular) or PS / 2 (circular). If a USB connector is used, then connect it to any USB port on the back of the system unit. If you are using a PS / 2 connector, insert it into the purple keyboard port on the back of the system unit.

Step 5

Unpack the mouse and determine if the cable is USB (rectangular) or PS / 2 (circular). If a USB connector is used, then connect it to any USB port on the back of the system unit. If you are using a PS / 2 connector, plug it into the green mouse port on the back of the system unit.

If your keyboard has a USB port, then you can connect the mouse through it instead of directly to your computer.

If you have a wireless mouse or keyboard, you may need to connect a Bluetooth adapter (via USB) to your computer. However, many computers have built-in Bluetooth, so an adapter may not be needed.

Step 6

If you have external speakers or headphones, then you can connect them to the audio port (on the front or rear panel of the system unit). On many computers, ports are color-coded. Speakers or headphones are connected to the green port and the microphone to the pink port. The blue port is the line input, which is for other types of devices.

Some speakers, headphones, and microphones have USB plugs instead of regular audio. They can be connected to any USB port. In addition, many monitors have built-in speakers and microphones.

Step 7

Take the 2 power cords that come with your computer. Connect the first cable from the back to the system unit and to the surge protector. Then connect the second cable to the monitor and to the surge protector.

Step 8

Finally, plug the surge protector into a wall outlet. You may also need to turn on the surge protector itself, if it has a switch.

If you don't have a surge protector, you can plug your computer directly into a power outlet. However, this is not recommended, as a power surge can damage your computer.

Computer installation and connection completed

Your basic computing devices are now ready to go. Before turning on your computer, spend some time organizing your workplace. A well-organized workplace can improve productivity and health.