The fundamentals: hardware and software

A computer consists of a screen, a keyboard and a boxlike case with the “brains” of the system. For most tasks you'll also need a printer and, perhaps, a pointing device called a mouse. This equipment is called hardware.

By itself, the hardware is like a cassette player without tapes. A computer needs programs, or software, which usually includes one or more computer disks and a printed instruction manual.

The price depends mainly on the hardware’s brain power — the type of processor and the size of its memory. How much power do you need? That depends on the software you'll use. In general, words and numbers demand less from a computer than pictures and sound.

Sufficient power is important because a computer works interactively. With hardware that isn’t up to the job, you might have to wait 30 seconds for an on-screen thesaurus to look up a word. But with the right system the entry would appear instantly.

point – указывать

device – устройство, прибор

brain – мозг

size – размер

sufficient – достаточный

be up to – быть пригодным, подходящим

thesaurus – тематический словарь, энциклопедия, справочник

look up – искать

entry – запись

Answer the questions.

1. What components does computer consist of?

2. The computer needs tapes, doesn’t it?

3. What is usually included in the software?

4. What does the price mainly depend on?

5. Why is sufficient power important?

Read the text and answer the question: What one should do before buying a computer?

Preliminary decisions

Before you shop, it's wise to gain familiarity with computers and software. Ask a friend to demonstrate the programs he (she) uses; check out the computers at local stores. Then consider these questions: What do you plan to do with it? If your family is like most, you probably expect to do word processing and financial record-keeping. If you have kids, add educational activities and games to the list. Even models under $1,000 can perform those basic tasks. But software features involving complex pictures or sound may demand a setup that costs $1,500 or more.

Perhaps you’d like to try an online service, like Prodigy, CompuServe or America Online. They offer electronic mail (E-mail), games, shopping, news, encyclopedias and electronic editions of magazines. Extra power isn’t necessary to go on-line, but you’ll need a modem that connects your computer to others via telephone wires. Expect to pay $50 to $350 for the modem and software; online services cost about $35 to join, plus $5 to $15 per month for basic use.

The hot news in computers is multimedia software that's capable of blending text, moving pictures and sound. With a multimedia encyclopedia you don't just read about lions, you see them bounding through the jungle and hear them roar. If you want multimedia capability, you’ll need a CD-ROM (Compact disk – Read Only Memory) drive, plus additional equipment for sound and extra power and memory. A computer equipped for multimedia software costs $1,500 to $3,000 and up.

Can you get a basic computer and add multimedia capability later? In theory, yes. But it’s often difficult to blend older components with new ones. Also, high costs for labor and parts often make it cheaper to buy a new computer than to upgrade an old one.

gain familiarity with – познакомиться с…

store = “shop”

kids = “children”.

feature – черта, особенность

involve – вовлекать

True, false or don’t know.

1. Modern online service offers E-mail, games, news, encyclopedias, etc.

2. To go on line only a telephone and a computer are required.

3. It’s reasonable not to buy a computer with a built-in modem.

4. The novelty in computers is multimedia software.

5. A computer equipped for multimedia service is inexpensive.