For Dummies 978-0-470-53483-0 Datasheet

Buying a ComputerIf you’ve never owned a computer and now face purchasing one for the first time, decid-ing what to get can be a somewhat daunting exp

➟16Part I: First Steps with Your Computer However, Windows XP doesn’t come with as many security tools. If you decide to use Windows XP, find a fri

➟17 Chapter 1: Buying a Computerdata? (Computer speed and storage are covered later in this chapter.) Understand what you need before you buy. Each fe

➟18Part I: First Steps with Your Computer CCheck the auction site for guidance on staying safe when buying auctioned goods. Some Web sites, such a

➟19 Chapter 1: Buying a ComputerAn LCD monitor with a flat screenFigure 1-5 ➟ Resolution: A monitor’s resolution represents the number of pixels that

➟20Part I: First Steps with Your Computer U which is a small drawer that pops out, allowing you to place a DVD in a tray, push the drawer back into

➟21 Chapter 1: Buying a ComputerUnderstand Processor Speed and MemoryYou computer contains a processor contained on a computer chip.The speed at which

➟22Part I: First Steps with Your Computer B ➟ Your computer will require some RAM to run the operating system. Windows 7 requires 1GB of main memor

➟23 Chapter 1: Buying a Computer ➟ Broadband: Broadband connections can be DSL (dig-ital subscriber line) or cable modem. In both cases, you pay a fe

➟24Part I: First Steps with Your Computer Here are some of the variables you’ll be asked about when you pur-chase a customized system, many of which a

➟8Part I: First Steps with Your Computer Understand All You Can Do with ComputersIn just a couple of decades, computers have moved from being expe

➟9 Chapter 1: Buying a Computer ➟ Create greeting cards, letters, or home inventories. Whether you’re organizing your holiday card list or figuring o

➟10Part I: First Steps with Your Computer U If you have a digital video camera and editing soft-ware, you can use editing tools to make a movie an

➟11 Chapter 1: Buying a ComputerUnderstand Hardware and SoftwareYour computing experience is made up of hardware and software. The hardware is all the

➟12Part I: First Steps with Your Computer E Software (also known as programs or applications) is installed on your computer hard drive, which resides

➟13 Chapter 1: Buying a Computerprotects your computer from unwanted intrusion by malicious programs called spyware. See Part IV for details about usi

➟14Part I: First Steps with Your Computer C Figure 1-3 ➟ Desktop models typically have a large tower, such as the tower shown in Figure 1-4, that

➟15 Chapter 1: Buying a Computersophisticated sound and image capabilities are often referred to as gaming or multimedia models and they typically req