VECTOR 4 USER'S MANUAL
INTRODUCTION TO VECTOR 4
CP
1M
For the Vector 4, mass memory
refers
either
to IIfloppy
diskettes
ll
,
which
are
5-1/4"
circles
of
Mylar (though
other
systems
may
use
larger
or
smaller
diskettes),
or
to
IIhard disks
ll
, made of a metallic alloy. Each medium
of
mass
memory
has
its
own advantages: hard disks make storage and
retrieval
a
little
faster, and can
be
a permanent
part
of the computer
since
they
can
hold so
much
information;
floppy
diskettes
can
be
removed from
one
machine and
inserted into another
of
the same type, giving
you
the flexibility to
insert
new
information in about
the
time
it
takes
to
change a tape
cassette.
Processing
Processing
is
performed
by
the
Central
Processing
Unit
(or
CPU) of your
computer, in this
case
a microprocessor
called
a Z80B.
The
microprocessor
works
very
closely
with
the
RAM,
where
instructions
and information
are
stored
and
can
be
updated.
The
RAM
and
the
microprocessor
are
both
mounted
on
the
same
printed
circuit
board
to
make this cooperation easier.
As
an example, this is what happens when you give a command in a
program
to
multiply two numbers together:
•
the
microprocessor
reads
those
two numbers from
the
keyboard or
the
RAM,
• pulls
the
multiplication routine out
of
its
own memory,
• and performs
the
calculations you desire.
Input
And
Output
But
to
read
those
numbers,and
to
display their product
to
you,
the
system
must use
its
third subsystem: input and
output.
Input
ultimately
consists
of
you,
the
user,
pressing
letters
and numbers on
the
keyboard. Sometimes this
input tells the system to
go
somewhere else and
get
more
information
for
a
kind
of
second-generation
input.
Output
usually
displays
on your screen;
depending on
the
instructions,
it
can
also
be
sent
to
mass memory
(the
disk
drives), or
to
the
printer.
How Hard
Is
This?
Controlling
all
the
electronic and logical functions
that
make this possible is,
as you
can
probably imagine, a very complicated task which
requires
specific
and
exact
instructions.
But
to
make your
computer
time
as
easy
and
. profitable as possible, the instructions
to
perform all these electronic functions
are
planned
and
written
by
computer professionals. These instructions control
all
the
detailed
electronic
functions
so
that
you
enter
simple,
one-
or
two-word
commands
at
the
keyboard. The complete
set
of these instructions
is called software.
Rev. A
-9-01-82
7100-0001
VU-3
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