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4. Are the following sentences true (t) or false (f)?

  1. Any device that has a microprocessor can be called a computer.

  2. Desktop computers are as cheap as laptops.

  3. All portable computers use touchscreen as an input device.

  4. Laptops are more expensive than netbooks.

  5. A workstation is the same as a desktop computer.

  6. A mainframe is absolutely different from an enterprise server.

  7. Supercomputers are the most powerful and expensive computers in the world.

  8. Some countries produce clothing which has embedded wearable computers in it.

Grammar. Comparing and Contrast (2).

You can talk about similarities and differences of some things using Comparative and Superlative forms of adjectives and some structures (the same as, different from, as … as…, not as/so … as … , etc.).

1. Netbooks are ultra-portable computers that are smaller than traditional laptops. (Comparative adjective)

2. The latest trend in computing is wearable computers. (Superlative adjective)

  1. A Workstation is not the same as a desktop computer. (the phrase)

5. Find in the text some more examples of comparison.

6. Find 4 incorrect sentences and correct them. Mistakes are all connected with comparison.

1. Last Sunday I bought a new laptop which was much smaller the old one.

2. Engineers of this firm are as professional as those of the famous American company.

3. They wrote their better novel in the late 90s.

4. I couldn’t recognize him as he became the fattest than he was three years ago.

5. The atmosphere in the office wasn’t so relaxed as it was before this man came to work here.

6. Mobile telephone can be called the necessariest device for me.

7. He upgraded his PC and now it’s as powerful as a workstation.

7. Write your own sentences comparing different types of computers.

Speaking.

8. What type of computer is the best for students? Prepare a short talk and include the following aspects:

a) purpose

b) size

c) cost

d) ergonomic factor

e) weight and portability

f) reliability

g) connectivity

h) safety

Technical reading.

9. Read the information about laptops and choose the best heading (a- f) for each paragraph (1-5). There is one extra heading which you don’t need to use.

A. Advantages

B. Common information

C. History

D. The latest modifications.

E. Classification

F. Disadvantages

Laptop

1. A laptop is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the components of a desktop computer including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device (a touchpad, also known as a trackpad or a pointing stick) and speakers into a single unit. A laptop is powered by mains electricity via an AC adapter or can be used away from an outlet using a rechargeable battery. A laptop battery stores enough energy to run the laptop for three to five hours. When the laptop is plugged into the mains, the battery charges whether or not the computer is running.

2. A personal, portable information manipulator the ‘Dynabook’ was imagined by Alan Kay in 1968. The first commercially available portable computer the IBM 5100 appeared in September 1975. In 1981the first laptop-sized portable computer the Epson HX-20 was announced. The Epson had a LCD screen, a rechargeable battery, and a calculator-size printer. The Gavilan SC, released in 1983, was the first computer described as a "laptop" by its manufacturer. From 1983 several new input techniques were developed and included in laptops: the touchpad, the pointing stick and the handwriting recognition. Optical storage, read-only CD-ROM followed by writeable CD and later read-only or writeable DVD and Blue-Ray, became common in laptops soon in the 2000s.

3. The term "laptop" can refer to a number of classes of small portable computers. A desktop-replacement computer is a laptop that is usually larger and heavier than a standard laptop. It contains more powerful components and has a 15" or larger display. A subnotebook is a laptop designed with an emphasis on portability: small size – less than 13" screens, low weight – between 0.8 and up to 2 kg and longer battery life – 10 hours. A netbook is a cheaper and lighter than a full-size laptop, but smaller keyboards can be more difficult to operate and CDs cannot be used. A tablet PC is a convertible laptop with a complex joint between the keyboard and the touch-screen. A rugged laptop is designed to reliably operate in harsh usage conditions such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures, and wet or dusty environments.

4. Portability is usually the first advantage mentioned in any comparison of laptops versus desktop PCs because a laptop can be used in a lot of places. Productivity: a laptop can work in places where a desktop PC cannot be used. Immediacy: people can have instant access to various personal and work files. Up-to-date information: using a single laptop at different places avoids the problem of synchronization files. Connectivity: remaining mobile a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity. Size: laptops are smaller than desktop PCs. Low power consumption: a typical laptop uses 20–90 W, compared to 100–800 W for desktops. Quiet: laptops are often quieter than desktops. Battery: a charged laptop can continue to be used in case of a power outage and is not affected by short power interruptions and blackouts. All-in-One: laptops have everything in a single unit.

5. Compared to desktop PCs, laptops have some disadvantages. Performance: laptops remain more expensive at the same performance level. Upgradeability: numerous peripherals usually impair the laptop's portability. Health: small and flat keyboard and trackpad pointing devices cause wrist injuries and hunching over the screen often causes neck or spinal injuries; heat from using a laptop on the lap can cause skin discoloration on the thighs and have a negative effect on male fertility. Equipment wear: laptops are subject to more wear and physical damage. Parts replacement: original external components are expensive, and inexpensive but fragile parts often cannot be bought separate from larger more expensive components. Heat cooling: extremely compact cooling systems can fail due to clogging by dust. Battery life is limited because the capacity drops with time. Security and privacy: laptops are easy targets for thefts.