Atari Portfolio - Page 18

CHAPTER
TWO:
SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
This chapler
brjelly
explains how
your
Pod{olio works
and
uses memory
slorage space,
and how
1o use memoty
cards.
HOW
YOUR
PORTFOLIO
WORKS
A compuler
processes
tnslruclions to
perlorm
a task
These
rnslructons
are called
programs.
Two examples
ol
programs
are lhe operating
syslem inside
your
compuier,
and a
dro-
gram
on a
program
card. Your compuler
feceives
lhese
programs
as eleclronic
slonals lo be
processed
anct/or
slored.
The
processing
and sloring ol
data
raets
ol eiectronjc
signals
grouped
togelhe,
is handled by
a system ol electronic
ciompo-
nents
and integraled
circuits.
Your Po.liolio
computer uses
lhe same fundamenlal
language
all olher compulers
use
and
rhal
is st.nple brnary
arrthmetic
Bul. lhanklully.
lhe Portlolio
doesn'r spdah to
you
rn
btnary
code
ll
underslands
spectal commands
called DOS
com-
mands thal
enable
you
to
communicaie with
ihe compuler.
But
you
don't have to learn
DOS 10 communicale
with
your
Portfolio.
The File Manager
program
acts as
your pers6nal
inlerpreler, lranslaling
DOS commands
inlo lamiliar words
and
phrases
and
presenling
information in the iorm
of simple
windows
and menus. Using
the File Manager makes
il
possible
lor
you
lo begin using
your
Porllolio right away.
inslead ol having
lo lirsl learn a new and
uniamjliar lariguage.
MEMOFIY
You compuler uses lwo
lypes of memory: inlernal
memory,
and exlernal
memory. lniernal memory
is tnlormalion slorage
Iocalions
on microchrps rnsrde
your
compuler. Exlernal mem-
ory is informalion
slotage localions on memory
cards.