MTSX RSS GETTING STARTED
68P81074C50 2-5
2.2.1 Identifying Major Computer Parts
Computers range in complexity and size from ones that easily and lightly fit on your lap to ones the size of a car
that require air-conditioned, smoke and dust-free environments. Falling between this range is the microcomputer,
which is common in many households and businesses today. Whatever their size, most microcomputers
(hereafter referred to as computers) consist of a monitor, a system unit, and a keyboard.
2.2.1.1 Monitor
Monitors perform like a window into the computer, allowing us to see on a display the data inside the computer.
Monitors come in a variety of sizes and colors. Some can be bigger than a 19-inch diagonal television, though a
common size is 12 inches diagonally. Monochrome monitors have only one color behind the words and pictures
on the display, which in many cases is either green, amber, white or black. Color monitors can display two or
more colors on the display at a time, but with color monitors a slight decrease in picture sharpness or text
legibility may be experienced. Colors on the RSS screen can be selected or changed by the user by using the
RSS. To help users quickly find their place on the display before typing, a flashing underscore, called a cursor,
typically serves as a visual place indicator.
Besides the display, a monitor usually has a power cord, an on/off switch, brightness and contrast dials, and a
cable connection to the system unit.
The RSS can function with either monochrome, CGA, EGA or VGA-based monitors.
2.2.1.2 System Unit
The system unit contains a special chip that is the brain of the computer, one or more diskette drives, a hard-disk
drive, a cable connection to the keyboard, one or more communications ports and an on/off switch. The system
unit should be treated with care, as jarring and hot temperatures could internally damage the unit.
2.2.1.3 Keyboard
A user instructs the computer what to do by typing commands on the keyboard. The display shows the
commands as they are typed. Most keyboards have letter keys, numeric keys, and a number of special keys that
perform special functions. The “NAVIGATING THROUGH THE RSS MENU” section describes some of these
special keys and how they perform with the RSS.
2.3 UNDERSTANDING COMPUTER STORAGE SYSTEMS
The computer can store amazing amounts of data (software programs, code, data, files) in several places. Some
of these places are:
• the random-access memory (RAM),
• the read-only memory (ROM),
• the hard-disk drives, and
• the diskettes
The RAM, ROM, hard disks and diskettes all vary in function and all have certain size limits (memory). They all
store data in terms of bytes, a byte equalling approximately one character as typed on the keyboard. 1,024 bytes
equals one kilobyte, or 1K. For comparison purposes, one page of double-spaced, typed text equals
approximately 2K.
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