What is Ethernet

   Ethernet is simply a network standard for data transmission that uses twisted pair or coaxial cable. It connects your computer to the internet or to a network. Though Ethernet is still the most widely used, wireless technologies are increasingly taking over the networks because it offers greater user flexibility. Data transmission is faster with Ethernet than wireless technologies. All modern computers should come with an ethernet

What is Motherboard

   Most of the time you won't see this listed on the sales page for a new computer. However, when talking to someone you may hear them talk about one of these. The name motherboard really does fit well with the functionality of it. In essence, this board is what every other component (CPU, hard drive, RAM, etc.) will plug in to. It is the base of your computer. This allows information to be run from one component to another. It also is what transfers electricity to some of the components. All motherboards are not created equal. Better (and pricier) motherboards may allow for more upgrades in the future, better onboard sound, and the ability to overclock your computer.

What is Ram

   RAM memory is used to actually run the software on your computer that is currently being used. When looking for your new computer, again, you have to evaluate what you will be doing with it. Still though, RAM is extremely important in how your computer will function. It is called memory for a reason. Basically, memory will actually store tasks that are to be done by the programs running on your computer. For example, when you open up Word, a lot of what Word needs to run is loaded into memory. However, loading all of your documents into memory would overload the memory. So, these are not stored in memory and are only loaded into memory as they are opened. Software has become increasingly demanding on RAM over the years. By today's standards, I wouldn't buy a computer even for surfing the internet that had less than 1GB of memory. If I was going to play games, I would recommend 2GB.

What is Video Card

   Video Card produces the visual output that you see on your screen. It simply takes virtual output from programs running on your computer and tells the monitor which of the tiny dots on your computer screen to light up for you to see.

   If you are a gamer, your type of video card really matters a lot. Usually modern games require the latest graphics/video cards for smooth animation. To put shortly, the type of video card you have on your computer determines the quality of image you can see on your computer.

What is Server

  This term is use to explain a process in which a client makes a service request from a server; simply put, it is a technology that provides a superb way to interconnect programs that are distributed over a network. When you check your mail, a client program on your computer forwards your request to a server program at your internet Service Provider (ISP). Your server retrieves your email, it then forwards it to the client on your computer, which makes it available for you to read. The Client/Server relationship is the central idea of network computing. Many business applications use the client/server model.

What is Client

   This term is use to explain a process in which a client makes a service request from a server; simply put, it is a technology that provides a superb way to interconnect programs that are distributed over a network. When you check your mail, a client program on your computer forwards your request to a server program at your internet Service Provider (ISP). Your server retrieves your email, it then forwards it to the client on your computer, which makes it available for you to read. The Client/Server relationship is the central idea of network computing. Many business applications use the client/server model.

What is WiMax

WiMax is an acronym for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. This is a communication technology that uses the radio spectrum to transmit tens of megabits per second in bandwidth between digital devices. WiMax is a far better technology than Wi-Fi because it could transmit over far greater distances and could also handle much more data.

WiMax technology was developed by the joint efforts of service providers, software companies, and equipment manufacturers who wanted to design a technology that would allow all equipment, regardless of who manufactured them, to be interoperable. In the US, telecommunication companies such as Verizon provide WiMax radio spectrum services.

What is Hardware

Hardware is any of the electrical and mechanical parts of a computer. Examples of computer hardware include memory chips, monitors, CPUs, the computer hard drives, and so on. Hardware is useless without a device driver that lets your operating system communicate with that piece of hardware.

Computer Components

Computers come in all types and sizes. There are primarily two main sizes of computers. They are:

    * Portable
    * Desktop

The portable computer comes in various sizes and are referred to as laptops, notebooks, and hand-held computers. These generally denote different sizes, the laptop being the largest, and the hand-held is the smallest size. This document will mainly talk about the desktop computer although portable computer issues are also discussed in various areas.
Computer Components:

Computers are made of the following basic components:

   1. Case with hardware inside:

         1. Power Supply - The power supply comes with the case, but this component is mentioned separately since there are various types of power supplies. The one you should get depends on the requirements of your system. This will be discussed in more detail later

         2. Motherboard - This is where the core components of your computer reside which are listed below. Also the support cards for video, sound, networking and more are mounted into this board.

               1. Microprocessor - This is the brain of your computer. It performs commands and instructions and controls the operation of the computer.
               2. Memory - The RAM in your system is mounted on the motherboard. This is memory that must be powered on to retain its contents.
               3. Drive controllers - The drive controllers control the interface of your system to your hard drives. The controllers let your hard drives work by controlling their operation. On most systems, they are included on the motherboard, however you may add additional controllers for faster or other types of drives.

         3. Hard disk drive(s) - This is where your files are permanently stored on your computer. Also, normally, your operating system is installed here.

         4. CD-ROM drive(s) - This is normally a read only drive where files are permanently stored. There are now read/write CD-ROM drives that use special software to allow users to read from and write to these drives.

         5. Floppy drive(s) - A floppy is a small disk storage device that today typically has about 1.4 Megabytes of memory capacity.

         6. Other possible file storage devices include DVD devices, Tape backup devices, and some others.

   2. Monitor - This device which operates like a TV set lets the user see how the computer is responding to their commands.

   3. Keyboard - This is where the user enters text commands into the computer.

   4. Mouse - A point and click interface for entering commands which works well in graphical environments.