Types of computer systems

Computers can be divided into five main types, depending on their size and power. These are: mainframes, desktop PCs, laptops, tablet PCs and personal digital assistants, or PDAs.

Mainframes are the largest and most powerful computers. The basic configuration of a mainframe consists of a central system which processes immense amounts of data at high speed. This central system provides information and computing facilities for hundreds of terminals connected together in a network. Mainframes are used for large-scale computing purposes in banks, universities and big companies.

PCs, or personal computers, carry out their processing on a single microchip. They are usually classified by size and portability. A desktop PC is designed to be placed on your desk. It is used as a home computer or as a workstation for group work. Typical examples are the IBM PC and the Apple Macintosh.

A laptop is a portable computer that has a flat LCD screen and uses batteries for mobile use. Small laptops are also called notebooks. The latest models can run

as fast as similar desktop computers and have similar configurations. They are ideal for business executives who travel a lot.

A tablet PC is a type of notebook computer that has an LCD screen on which you can write with a stylus or digital pen. Your handwriting is recognized and converted into editable text. You can also input text by using speech recognition software or a small keyboard. You can fold and rotate the screen easily.

Finally, a PDA (personal digital assistant) is a lightweight, handheld computer. The term refers to a wide variety of handheld devices, including palmtops and pocket PCs. For input, you type using a small keyboard or you use a stylus – a special pen to select items on the screen. PDAs can be used as mobile phones, personal organizers or media players. They also let you access the Internet via Wi-Fi networks, and some include a GPS navigation system.

Sources of information:

1. S. R. Esteras. Infotech English for Computer Users, 4^th edition (Student’s book, Teacher’s book, Workbook + audio) – Cambridge University Press, 2009. – 168pp.

2. S. R. Esteras, E.M.Fabre. Professional English in use: ICT – Cambridge

University Press, 2007. – 117 pp.

Vocabulary:

1) a mainframe – мэйнфрейм, большая ЭВМ коллективного пользования, главный компьютер вычислительного центра

2) a desktop PC – настольный компьютер

3) a laptop – ноутбук

4) a tablet PC – планшетный компьютер

5) a PDA – personal digital assistant – персональный цифровой секретарь (карманный компьютер, используемый в качестве записной книжки)

6) large-scale – крупномасштабный

7) a workstation – рабочая станция (сетевой компьютер, использующий ресурсы сервера)

8) a flat screen – плоский экран

9) LCD – a liquid crystal display – жидкокристаллический экран

10) a stylus – пишущий элемент, стилус

11) a digital pen – электронное перо, перо графического планшета

12) handwriting – почерк

13) to recognize – распознавать, узнавать

14) to convert into – преобразовывать, конвертировать

15) editable text – редактируемый текст

16) speech recognition software – программное обеспечение распознавания речи

17) to fold and rotate – складывать и вращать

18) lightweight – легкий по весу

19) a handheld computer – портативный компьютер, переносной компьютер

20) a palmtop, a pocket PC– карманный компьютер

21) GPS – Global positioning system – глобальная система навигации и определения положения

Exercises:

1. Complete the collocations:

1. large-scale a) computer

2. handwriting b) digital assistant

3. a portable c) player

4. a personal d) recognition

5. a navigation e) computing

6. a media f) system

II. Choose the right answer and complete the sentences:

1. Mainframes are ____________the largest and most powerful computers.

a) much b) by far c) far

2. The basic configuration of a mainframe consists of a central system which processes ______________amounts of data at high speed.

a) immensity b) immerse c) immense

3. Personal computers ____________their processing on a single microchip and are usually classified by size and portability.

a) carry out b) carry on c) carry up

4. The latest models can run ____________ similar desktop computers and have similar configurations.

a) as fast as b) as fast c) as fast than

5. Using a stylus or a digital pen for writing on a touch sensitive LCD screen you can input information into your tablet PC _____________.

a) easier b) the most easily c) most easily

6. Our handwriting is recognized by special software and converted into _____________ text.

a) modified b) editable c) amended

7. PDAs can be used ___________mobile phones, personal organizers or media players.

a) like b) as if c) as

8. PDAs also let you ____________the Internet via Wi-Fi networks because they feature a Wi-Fi module.

a) access to b) access c) access into

III. Translate the sentences into your native language:

1. Mainframes provide computing facilities to hundreds of terminals linked in a network.

2. There are five types of computer systems: mainframes, desktop PCs, laptops, tablet PCs and personal digital assistants.

3. Mainframes are by far the most powerful computer systems so they are often referred to as servers.

4. Laptops are nearly as powerful as desktop PCs nowadays but still they can’t handle the most demanding applications.

5. Desktops are twice as expensive as laptops but they aren’t nearly as lightweight as portable computers.

6. The latest models of laptop computers can run as fast as similar desktops and have similar technical characteristics.

7. The term “personal digital assistant” refers to a wide range of handheld devices, including palmtops and pocket PCs.

8. The modern PDA features a Wi-Fi module and a GPS navigation system which makes it an irreplaceable electronic device for those who travel a lot.

IV. Explain the following abbreviations and acronyms in English, then translate them into your native language:

1. LCD – ______________________________________________

2. PDA – ______________________________________________

3. OS – _______________________________________________

4. CPU – ______________________________________________

5. GPS – ______________________________________________

6. DVD – ______________________________________________

V. Which type of computer systems do you think would satisfy the needs of the following people? Substantiate your answers.

1. A student who is still at university and needs an ultra-light computer he can easily take to class. He needs to write essays and web-based projects, and he'd also like to be able to take notes during the lectures and draw directly on the screen.

2. A CAD (computer-aided design) engineer whose job involves computer-aided design, simulations, geoscience and engineering. Those applications obviously require a lot of memory and a large drive.

3. A businessman who manages an advertising company and therefore needs a powerful system that will work with multimedia applications, integrating text and pictures with animation and voice annotations. Digitized images and sound occupy a lot of disk space so the storage capacity of the hard disk matters.

4. A sales representative of a paper company. He travels a lot. He is looking for a lightweight machine which he can use to process orders and communicate with the head office while he is on the road. But his budget is limited.

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