POIS_14e_Ch04_PowerPoint-edited

Importance of Learning About Hardware and Software

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• Understanding state-of-the-art hardware/software enhances:

  • Network and data security

  • Productivity

  • Employee morale

  • Cost reduction

  • Competitive advantage for organizations

• Essential for managers to define business needs and evaluate options.

Anatomy of a Computer

Basic Components

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Memory

• Bus

• Input/output devices

Phases of Instruction Execution

• Instruction Phase:

  • Fetch instruction

  • Decode instruction

• Execution Phase:

  • Execute instruction

  • Store results

Processors

Multicore Processors

• Comprises multiple independent processing units

Factors Affecting Processor Speed

• Clock speed measured in Gigahertz (GHz)

Types of Processing

• Multiprocessing

• Coprocessing

• Parallel Processing

  • Massively parallel systems for extensive tasks

Grid Computing

• Coordinated network of computers to solve common problems

Main Memory

• Rapid access storage for CPU

• Storage units:

  • Byte (B), Kilobyte (KB), Megabyte (MB), etc.

RAM and Cache

RAM

• Temporary storage, volatile

  • Types: SRAM, DRAM, DDR SDRAM

Cache Memory

• High-speed memory for rapid access

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

• Permanent data storage varieties like PROM, EEPROM

Secondary Storage

• Stores large volumes of data; more permanent than main memory

Types of Secondary Storage Devices

• HDD, RAID, SSD, etc.

Input/Output Devices

Common Input Devices

• Keyboard, mouse, scanners, etc.

Common Output Devices

• Display screens, printers (e.g., 3D printers)

Computer System Classes

Classifications

• General-purpose vs. Special-purpose computers

• Categories: Portable, Nonportable, Servers, Mainframes, Supercomputers

Important Computing Concepts

Quantum Computing

• Utilizes qubits and quantum principles

Server Farms and Data Centers

• Groups of servers; houses IT operations

Green Computing

• Environmentally responsible design and operation of IT products

• EPEAT tiers for environmental performance

Software Fundamentals

System Software

• Operating systems, utilities, middleware

• Manages hardware and software functions

Operating Systems

• Functions include user interface, hardware control, and task management

Applications of Software

• Categories: Proprietary, Off-the-shelf, SaaS

  • SaaS: Accessible over the internet, reduces licensing costs

Considerations for Software

Licensing

• End User License Agreement (EULA) types

Open-Source Software

• Usually free with source code available

Software Upgrades

• Essential for functionality and maintaining competitiveness

Case Study and Discussion

Cost/Benefits Analysis

• Evaluating portable devices for sales organization

Questions for Consideration

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• Importance of device choice, additional steps in decision-making, justifying extra costs.