Velocity professional wrestling and Personal computer: Difference between pages

Revision as of 19:48, 18 June 2005

Revision as of 04:08, 27 October 2005

Line 1:

<div style="float:right;width:220px;">

#REDIRECT [[WWE Velocity]]

[[image:computer.tower.750pix.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[computer case|tower]] of a '''personal computer'''.]]

[[image:pc.computer.bristol.750pix.jpg|thumb|200px|Personal computer and peripherals. From left to right: ink jet printer, an irrelevant TV, CRT monitor, broadband cable modem for the internet, flat bed scanner. The tower (CPU, hard drive, etc) can just be glimpsed at bottom right. The keyboard and mouse are wireless.]]

[[Image:Martin Ultima's Dell.jpg|thumb|200px|A personal computer.]]

[[Image:Martin Ultima's Micron.jpg|thumb|200px|A Micron TransPort XPE laptop computer.]]

</div>

A '''personal computer''' or '''PC''' is generally a [[microcomputer]] intended to be used by one person at a time, and suitable for general purpose tasks such as [[word processing]], [[programming]], [[multimedia]] editing or [[personal computer game|game play]], usually used to run purchased or other [[software]] not written by the user. Unlike [[minicomputer]]s, a personal computer is often owned by the person using it, indicating a low cost of purchase and simplicity of operation. The user of a modern personal computer may have significant knowledge of the operating environment and application programs, but is not necessarily interested in programming nor even able to write programs for the computer.

The first generation of microcomputers were called just that, and only sold in small numbers to those able to (build them from kits or) operate them: engineers and accomplished hobbyists (for example, the [[Altair 8800]]). The second generation micros were known as [[home computer]]s, and are discussed in that section.

The initials "PC" have become virtually synonymous with [[IBM PC compatible]] computers such that they are rarely used to refer to non-IBM PC compatible personal computers such as the [[Apple Macintosh]].

==History==

An early use of the term appeared in a [[November 3]], [[1962]], ''[[New York Times]]'' article reporting [[John W. Mauchly]]'s vision of future computing spoken to a meeting of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers that previous day. Mauchly told the gathering, "There is no reason to suppose the average boy or girl cannot be master of a personal computer." {{ref|NYT}}

The first computers that can be called 'personal' were the first non-mainframe computers, the [[LINC]] and the [[PDP-8]]. By today's standards they were big (about the size of a refrigerator), expensive (around $50,000 US), and had small magnetic core memories (about 4096 12-bit words for the LINC).

However, they were small enough and cheap enough for individual laboratories and research projects to use, freeing them from the [[batch processing]] and [[bureaucracy]] of the typical industrial or university computing center. In addition, they were moderately interactive and soon had their own [[operating system]]s. Eventually, this category became known as the [[mini-computer]], usually with [[time-sharing]] and [[program development]] facilities. Eventually, the mini-computer grew up to encompass the [[VAX]] and larger mini-computers from [[Data General]], [[Prime]], and others. Deployment of mini-computer systems was a model for how personal computers would be used, but few of the mini-computer makers managed to profit from it.

Development of the single-chip [[microprocessor]] changed everything, since it dropped the cost of purchase of a computer by an order of magnitude or more.

The first generation of microcomputers that started to appear in the mid [[1970s]] (see [[home computer]]s) were less powerful and in some ways less versatile than business computers of the day (but in other ways more versatile, in terms of built-in sound and graphics capabilities), and were generally used by computer enthusiasts for learning to [[computer programming|program]], for running simple office/productivity applications, for electronics interfacing, and/or [[computer game|game]]s, as well as for accessing [[bulletin board system|BBS]]'s, general online services such as [[CompuServe]], [[The Source (service)|The Source]], or Genie, or platform-specific services such as [[Quantum Link]] (US) or [[Compunet]] (UK).

Maybe the most important push to IBM compatibles over all other computers was because [[Albert Clark]], an Air Force program manager who was faced with a growing government user base, sharing mainframe time, who were purchasing the various non-compatible home computers to replace their VT-100 dumb terminals. There were as many as 10 different brands that could all emulate a VT-100, but required different actions to boot up and run. Rather than have to justify a single brand of computer with proprietary software and hardware, he chose what, at that time, was arguably the most backward computer of its time. It had no sound card, only a keyboard interface, but it was inexpensive and multiple manufacturers could legally produce them. He wrote the specification for an “IBM compatible” computer for purchase across the US Department of Defense. Contracting officials did not take the compatibility issue seriously so [[Albert Clark]] had to approve the next 3 major specifications prior to release to industry for bidding. The eventual result was the purchase of several million IBM compatible personal computers all across the government which encouraged many of the government contractors to buy IBM compatibles “to be compatible with the government.” The result was that the “IBM compatible computers”, Intel processors, and Microsoft became the standard.

It was the launch of the [[VisiCalc]] [[spreadsheet]], initially for the [[Apple II family|Apple II]] and later for the [[Atari 8-bit family]], [[Commodore PET]], and [[IBM PC]] that became the "[[killer app]]" that turned the microcomputer into a business tool. Later, [[Lotus 1-2-3]], a combined spreadsheet (partly based on VisiCalc), presentation graphics, and simple database application, became the PCs own killer app. Good [[word processor]] programs also appeared for many home computers. The low cost of personal computers led to great popularity in the home and business markets during the [[1980s]]. In [[1982]], ''[[Time magazine]]'' named the personal computer its [[Man of the Year]].

During the [[1990]]s, the power of personal computers increased radically, blurring the formerly sharp distinction between personal computers and multi-user computers such as [[mainframe]]s. Today higher-end computers often distinguish themselves from personal computers by greater reliability or greater ability to multitask, rather than by straight [[central processing unit|CPU]] power.

==Architecture==

Personal computers can be categorized by size and portability:

*the '''[[desktop computer]]'''

*the '''[[portable computer]]'''

*the [[laptop|'''notebook''' or '''laptop''']]

*the [[Tablet PC|tablet computer]]

*the '''[[Personal_Digital_Assistant|PDA]]'''

*the '''[[wearable computer]]'''

Many mass-market [[IBM PC compatible]] and [[Apple Macintosh]] personal computers are standardized to the point that purchased software is expected to run with little or no customization for the particular computer. Often memory, and peripherals such as video boards and disk storage are easily upgradeable, even by the end user, and even the [[motherboard]] can in some cases be changed to upgrade the power of the central processor. Such upgradeability is not indefinite since major changes in the personal computer industry occur every three to five years; a machine that was considered top-of-the-line say five or six years ago may be impractical to upgrade due to changes in processors, memory, and peripherals. This upgrade cycle is in part linked to new releases of the primary mass-market operating system, which tends to drive the acquisition of new hardware and tends to obsolete previously serviceable hardware (see [[planned obsolescence]]).

The [[computer hardware|hardware]] capabilities of personal computers can sometimes be extended by the addition of [[expansion card]]s. The standard expansion bays for personal computers as of [[2005]] are [[Peripheral Component Interconnect| PCI]], [[AGP]], and [[PCI Express]]. All personal computers as of 2005 have multiple [[Peripheral Component Interconnect| PCI]] slots, and all but the cheapest prebuilt PCs have either a single [[AGP]] or at least one [[PCI Express]] slot, but rarely both. A PC may also be upgraded by the addition of extra drives ([[DVD]], [[CD-ROM]], [[flash drive]], [[Hard drive]], etc). Standard internal storage device interfaces are [[Advanced Technology Attachment|ATA]], [[Serial ATA]], [[SCSI]], and CF+ Type II in 2005.

===Motherboard===

:''Main article: [[PC motherboard]]''

The motherboard is the primary [[circuit board]] for a computer. Most other computer components plug directly into the motherboard to allow them to exchange information. Motherboards usually hold a [[chipset]], [[BIOS]], [[nonvolatile BIOS memory]], [[parallel port]], [[PS/2]] keyboard and mouse ports and expansion bays. Sometimes a secondary [[daughter board]] is plugged into the motherboard to provide more expansion bays and to cut down on its size.

===Central processing unit===

:''Main article: [[central processing unit]]''

The Central processing unit or CPU is the part of the computer that performs most of the calculations that make [[computer program|programs]] or [[operating system]]s run. The CPU plugs directly into the motherboard by one of many different types of sockets. Most [[IBM PC compatible]] computers use an [[x86]]-compatible processor made by [[Intel]], [[AMD]], [[VIA Technologies]] or [[Transmeta]]. <!-- Current Apple Macintosh processors are based on the [[Power PC]] -->

===RAM - memory===

:''Main article: [[random access memory]]''

The '''Random Access Memory''' of the computer is the "short-term-memory" of the PC, It is much faster than the mass storage devices like Harddisk or CD-ROM, but its contents are lost when the Power is turned off.

===Hard disk drive===

:''Main article: [[hard disk]]''

The disk drives use a sealed head/disk assembly (HDA) which was first introduced by IBM's "Winchester" disk system. The use of a sealed assembly allowed the use of positive air pressure to drive out particles from the surface of the disk, which improves reliability. This technology is now industry standard, with costs, capacities and access speeds which conform to [[Moore's law]].

===PSU - power supply unit===

:''Main article: [[power supply]]''

Essential. Provides steady DC supply from a domestic AC source.

Many problems with Old PCs can be traced to a faulty or overheating PSU. Newer power supplies often have voltage regulators that will shut down the computer if the power supply is under strain.

===Graphics - video Card===

:''Main article: [[graphics card]]''

The graphics card - otherwise called a graphics adapter, video adapter, or video card - processes and renders the graphics output from the computer to the [[VDU]] or computer [[monitor]] and is an essential part of the modern computer. On older and budget models graphics cards tended to be integrated with the [[motherboard]] but, more commonly, they are supplied in [[PCI]], [[AGP]], or [[PCI Express]] format. Graphic cards are also the most glamorised computer component as it is the component which creates all the visual effects on the computer which is essential for playing games

== Non IBM-compatible personal computers ==

Though many personal computers are [[IBM PC compatible|IBM PC compatible]] using either Microsoft Windows or open-source forms of [[UNIX]] such as [[Linux]], a number of other personal computer types are still popular. The leading alternative is [[Apple Computer]]'s [[Power Macintosh]] platform, based on the [[PowerPC]] [[microprocessor]] (although Apple has announced[http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jun/06intel.html] a transition to [[Intel]] microprocessors beginning in 2006).

Further PC and PW (Personal Workstation) types through time:

* [[Amiga]] (previously produced by [[Commodore_International|Commodore]], now under license from Amiga Inc.)

* [[Acorn Archimedes]] & [[RiscPC]]

* [[Atari]] [[Atari ST|ST]]

* [[BeOS]] [[BeBox]]

* [[Commodore 64]] still holds the record for being the most popular.

* [[Pegasos]]

* [[NEC]] [[PC-9800]] (At one time, in Japan)

* [[NeXT]] workstations

* [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] [[SparcStation]]

* [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]] workstations like the [[SGI Indigo]] and [[SGI Onyx]]

The term "personal computer" is often avoided by advocates of the above computer systems, ostensibly because of the association it has to the "PC" in "IBM PC".

== See also ==

[[image:Personal_computer.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|Display and keyboard]]

* [[Xerox Star]]

* The [[Apple Computer|Apple]], [[Apple II]], [[Lisa]], and [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]]

* [[Osborne 1]]

* [[8-bit microcomputer]]

* [[Computer case]]

* [[Desknote]]

* [[History of computing hardware (1960s-present)]]

* [[Liquid crystal display television]].

* [[Microcomputer]]

* [[Minicomputer]]

* [[Mainframe computer]]

* [[Supercomputer]]

* [[Server]]

==Notes==

*{{note|NYT}} "Pocket Computer May Replace Shopping List", ''New York Times'', [[3 November]] [[1962]].

== External links ==

{{wikibooks}}

*[http://www.old-computers.com/ Old Computers Museum] (all computer types)

*[http://pc-museum.com/ Rune's PC Museum]

*[http://www.bestpricecomputers.co.uk/reviews/quiet-pc/how-to-reduce-pc-noise.htm Controlling PC noise] and [http://www.silentpcreview.com Reviews of PC silencing products]

*[http://www.pcguide.com/ The PC Guide] contains detailed historical and technical information.

*[http://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm Howstuffworks' article on "How PCs Work"]

*[http://pc.wikicities.com Wikicity for PC enthuiasm]

[[Category:Personal computers|*Personal]]

[[Category:Office equipment]]

[[cs:Osobní počítač]]

[[da:Personlig computer]]

[[de:Personal Computer]]

[[es:Ordenador personal]]

[[eo:PC]]

[[fa:کامپیوتر شخصی]]

[[fr:Ordinateur personnel]]

[[he:מחשב אישי]]

[[ko:개인용 컴퓨터]]

[[id:Komputer pribadi (PC)]]

[[it:Personal computer]]

[[lv:Personālais dators]]

[[lt:Asmeninis kompiuteris]]

[[hu:Személyi számítógép]]

[[ms:Komputer peribadi]]

[[nv:Béésh bee ak'e'elchí Áłtsisígíí]]

[[nl:Personal computer]]

[[ja:パーソナルコンピュータ]]

[[pt:Computador pessoal]]

[[ru:Персональный компьютер]]

[[sr:ПЦ рачунар]]

[[fi:PC]]

[[sv:Persondator]]

[[th:คอมพิวเตอร์ส่วนบุคคล]]

[[vi:Máy tính cá nhân]]

[[tr:PC]]

[[zh:个人电脑]]