CPU: The central processing unit (CPU) is the "brain" of the computer: the microprocessor that controls the different components of the computer system (including other processors).
Processor: Processors are one type of silicon-based component commonly referred to as "chips."
Monitor: A monitor (or display) is a device-like a video screen-that lets you see what your computer is doing and how you are interacting with it. Some monitors are built into the computer's case, and some are attached with cables. Monitors are usually cathode-ray tubes (used with desktop computers) or liquid-crystal displays (used with portable computers).
Keyboard: Another device you use to enter information into an application or program on your computer.
Mouse: This is another device used to enter information into an application or program on your computer.
Operating System: The Operating System (OS), or System Software, is the set of programs and other files that your computer uses to start itself up, keep track of your files, open your programs, manage connections to networks and to other equipment, and so on. The OS is stored in the System Folder. Different models of the computer may need different versions of system software.
System Software: System software is usually installed when the computer is built. Occasionally you may need to reinstall part or all of the system software, or you may want to upgrade your OS. (See instructions in the manuals that came with your computer.)
Ports: A port is a socket for connecting equipment- such as a monitor, external hard disk, or printer-to your computer.
Ports are marked with icons like those shown below. The port icon identifies what type of equipment you can connect to the port.
ADB Port: The Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) is circuitry built into your computer that lets you connect a key board, a mouse, a trackball, a graphics tablet, a bar-code reader and other input devices.
Serial Port: A serial port is a socket for connecting equipment that transmits and receives data one bit at a time. Most printers and modems use a serial port.
SCSI Port (pronounced "scuzzy"): Is a port on your computer which uses SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) protocol-a set of rules and standards that specify how hard disks, scanners, CD-ROM drives, and other peripheral devices communicate with the computer to which they are connected. You can use your SCSI port to connect a chain of up to six SCSI devices (called a SCSI chain).
Other ports: Microphone, Ethernet, Monitor.
RAM: (Random Access Memory) is electronic circuitry contained in microprocessors on the computer's main circuit board. Memory is not the same as disk storage space. You use disks to store information and programs. RAM is used by the computer's system software and applications for temporary work session storage.
Components of the Macintosh Desktop Environment
Desktop: The desktop is the background area on your screen, where you work with icons, folders, and disks.
Finder: The Finder program displays the desktop and keeps track of your files and disks; it is located in the System folder.
The finder is always open (although it may be hidden). You can usually make the Finder the active program by choosing it from the Applications menu in the upper-right corner of the screen), clicking on an icon on the desktop, clicking the desktop, or clicking a disk or folder window.
Icon: An icon is a picture that represents a disk, program, document, or folder. You work with these items (for example, open, copy or move them) by manipulating their icons.
Window: A window is a rectangle on the screen that displays the contents of a disk, folder, or document. For example, when you double-click a folder to open it, the folder's window opens and displays the items inside the folder. (See Anatomy of a Window)
Menu: You use menus to choose a command to tell your computer what to do. Menus reside in the menu bar at the top of the screen. To use a menu, press the menu title to open it, the menu "pulls down" and then drag the mouse pointer to the command you want.
Menus in windows are identified by downward-pointing triangles; these menus "pop up" when you click them.
Dialog Box: A dialog box is a window that appears when the computer needs your attention. Dialog boxes have buttons-such as OK, Cancel or Save-that you must click before you continue your work.
Other Important Desktop Items:
Hard Drive: Where files, folders, and applications can be stored-it is the main storage for your computer.
Trash: The container where you drag files that you want to remove permanently.
Basic Menus in the Macintosh Desktop Environment
Apple Menu: Use this menu to open an item in the Apple Menu Items folder, or to see information about the active application or program. You can customize the items in this menu by adding or removing items from the Apple Menu Items folder.
About This Computer: Use this to check the version of the Mac OS you are running, how much memory (RAM) is installed in your computer, how much memory is free (not being used by the OS or other programs), and how much memory is being used by the OS and other programs.
File: Use this menu to perform operations with disks, files, folders, windows, and printers.
Open: (open apple+o) Open a file, folder or application.
New Folder: (open apple+n) allows you to create a new folder on any disk.
Close Window: (open apple+w) Close an open file, folder, or window on the desktop.
Get Info: (open apple+i) Get information (size, creation date, location) about a file, folder, application or disk. With applications you can also use this function to verify the version software or check/change its memory requirements.
Make Alias: (open apple+L) Make an alias. An alias is a file that points to another item (such as a program, document, folder or disk).
Find: (open apple+f) Locate an item on any local disk.
Edit: Use this menu to work with text and graphics, or to undo an action (e.g., cut, copy, paste).
Undo: (open apple+z) in most instances this allows you to undo or take back your last action.
View: Use this menu to change the way items are displayed in the active window. You may view by small icon, icon, name, size, kind, label or date.
Application Menu: Use this menu to switch from one application to another when more than one program is open.
Anatomy of a Window
Title Bar: Appears at the top of a window in its center.
Scroll Bar: Lets you move up, down or sideways in the "page" of any window. To scroll a little at a time, press on one of the scroll arrows.
Size Box: Allows you to change the height and width of a window.
Zoom Box: Allows you to change the size of a window quickly. Clicking once sizes the window so that all of its contents are visible (if possible). Clicking again returns the window to its original size.
Close Box: Closes the current window.
MacOS Filing Hierarchy
There are four basic components to the Macintosh filing structure: Applications, Documents, Files and Folders.
You use an application (or program) to do work on your computer. Types of applications include word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and graphics programs. You use an application to create documents.
A document is any piece of work you do on your computer that you save as a separate file.
A file is a collection of data of a certain type. Application programs and documents are two types of files. Each file is represented by an icon.
A folder is a container for programs, documents, and other folders. You can use folders to organize your files.
Fundamental Skills
* Opening an Item
Using the mouse pointer double-click the item.
* Copying an Item
Using the mouse pointer single-click on the item (to select it) and then hold down the option key and drag the item to the desired location. This will keep your file in its original location, while putting a copy in the chosen destination-two files total.
* Moving an Item
Using the mouse pointer single-click on the item (to select it) and then drag the item to the desired location. This will move your file to the new location-one file total.
* Selecting Multiple Items
1. Using the mouse pointer hold down the shift key and single-click the desired items.
2. Depress the mouse button and drag to enclose the items. It will make a box surrounding them.
* Renaming an Item
Using the mouse pointer single-click on the item (to select it) and then hit the return key. This will allow you to type in a new name for the item. It is strongly advised that you only rename documents or drives/disks; changing the name of an application may cause it to quit working.
* Removing an Item ("putting in the trash")
To remove an item from a disk, use the mouse pointer single-click on the item (to select it) and then drag it into the trash. If you have done this correctly the trash should change from "empty" to "full" (see below).
* Formatting a Disk
Insert the disk into your floppy drive. Once the icon for the disk appears on the desktop, go to the Special menu and choose Erase Disk; a window will pop-up. Name the disk, and change the format type to Macintosh and the size to the appropriate amount (ex: a Double-sided High-Density disk would be Macintosh 1.4MB). Choose Erase. Once a disk is erased you cannot retrieve any data it may have stored.
* Ejecting a Disk
1. Using the mouse pointer single-click on the disk (to select it) and then drag it into the trash. Don't worry, this will not put your disk into the trash, only eject it.
2. Using the mouse pointer single-click on the disk (to select it), go to the File menu and choose Put Away. (Note: this will not work with some older versions of the MacOS.)
Basic System Components
System Folder: The System Folder contains the system software, which your computer uses to start itself up, keep track of your files, run your programs, manage connections to networks and to other equipment, and so on.
The System Folder also contains several folders- including the Control Panels, Extensions, Apple Menu Items, Fonts, and Preferences folders-which store files of a certain type. When you drag one of these files (such as a font or a control panel) onto the System Folder icon, the item is automatically stored in the appropriate folder.
Control Panel: You use control panels to customize your computer system. You can change how the keyboard works, how the alerts sound, how icons are arranged, and many other aspects of your system. Control panels are in the Control Panels folder inside the System Folder.
System Extension: A system extension is a file that adds features to your computer's system software. (For example, QuickTime is a system extension that gives your computer the ability to use digitized video and audio files.)
Apple Menu Items: Contains standard System accessories (for example, the Chooser). You can control what appears in the Apple menu by dragging items in or out of the Apple Menu Items folder.
Chooser: An item inside Apple Menu Items. You use the Chooser to tell your computer what equipment you want to use (for example, which printer to use or which shared disk to connect). You use the Chooser to select equipment connected to your computer via serial port, or equipment connected over a network.
Fonts: A font is a set of characters and symbols in a distinctive typographic design (for example, Times, Helvetica, and Palatino). Fonts are stored in the Fonts folder inside the System folder of your startup disk. There are literally thousands of fonts available for use on a Macintosh. You can install as many fonts as your computer memory can support.
Preferences: Every file in this folder is put there by a piece of software, Microsoft Word or Netscape Navigator, for example. It is where the computer stores settings specific to an application-like having Netscape open to the Ole Miss homepage when it starts up. You cannot open a Preferences file; it can be opened only by an application or piece of software can.
A Strong Reminder:
DO NOT delete anything from your System Folder unless you are absolutely sure of its purpose and function. With one careless action you could critically disable your Macintosh's operating system. If you are unsure whether it is safe to delete an item from your System Folder check your User Manual, contact Apple, or call the IT Helpdesk.
Tips for Organizing & Using Your Mac
Use Aliases. An alias is a file that points to another item (such as a program, document, folder or disk). When you open the alias, the original file (the item it points to) opens. Aliases make it easy to find and open items and help you organize your files.
The alias has the same icon as the original, but its name (which you can change) appears in italics. You can make multiple aliases for an item.
Organize your Filing System. Store all your Applications in an Applications Folder; store your Documents in a Documents folder. Doing this makes it easier for you to find items. Use aliases on the desktop or on your hard disks main window to make access to applications and documents quicker. Reminder: The desktop is not a completely stable environment. By saving your documents directly to the desktop, or to a folder located on the desktop you make retrieval of this data more difficult if your machine crashes or dies.
Save. Save often. You never know when your machine will crash; even with every precaution taken it can happen. By saving your documents often you won't lose as much time once your machine is functional again, because you won't have to start from scratch.
Backup important files to more than one location. You never know when a disk may corrupt, be demagnetized or lost. Don't lose your final term paper, thesis or dissertation by failing to do this.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Working with Macintosh Windows:
To close all disk and folder windows: option key + Close
or option key + click any window's close box
Restarting the Computer
To restart or shut down the computer (on some models):
open apple + option key + shift key + start button
To force the computer to restart when the pointer is frozen (on some models):
open apple + control key + start button
Miscellaneous Options
To turn off all system extensions when starting up:
Hold down shift during computer startup.
To rebuild the desktop:
Hold down open apple key + option key during computer startup
To make the Finder the active application:
Click the desktop pattern
To force a frozen program to quit:
open apple key + option key + esc key
Mac Resources
Books
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Mac.
By Larry Hanson, Prentice Hall Computer Publications.
The Macintosh Bible.
By Jeremy Judson, Peachpit Press.
Mac for Dummies.
By David Pogue, IDG Books.
More Mac for Dummies.
By David Pogue, IDG Books.
Magazines
MacWeek
MacWorld
MacUser
Mac Addict
URLs Apple Computer
www.apple.com
Applelinks.com
www.applelinks.com/
Mac-Mgrs
(a good site that lists MANY links to other Macintosh URLs)
www.mrmac.com/mac-mgrs.html
MacFixit
(troubleshooting solutions for the Macintosh)
www.macfixit.pair.com/
MacintoshOS.com
www.MacintoshOS.com/
Ole Miss Apple Support Server
www.apple.olemiss.edu
TechWeb
www.techweb.com/
Taken from: http://www.olemiss.edu/online/mac_basics.html
USB Ports
Just about any computer that you buy today comes with one or more Universal Serial Bus connectors on the back. These USB connectors let you attach everything from mice to printers to your computer quickly and easily. The operating system supports USB as well, so the installation of the device drivers is quick and easy, too. Compared to other ways of connecting devices to your computer (including parallel ports, serial ports and special cards that you install inside the computer's case), USB devices are incredibly simple!
Taken from: http://www.howstuffworks.com/usb.htm
USB Flash Drive
(n.) A small. portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer’s USB port and functions as a portable hard drive. USB flash drives are touted as being easy-to-use as they are small enough to be carried in a pocket and can plug into any computer with a USB drive. USB flash drives have less storage capacity than an external hard drive, but they are smaller and more durable because they do not contain any internal moving parts. USB flash drives also are called thumb drives, jump-drives, pen drives, key drives, tokens or simply USB devices.
Taken from: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/USB_flash_drive.html
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_flash_drive
(1 GB or higher recommended for Computer Application course)
Learn A Computer Term - Gigabyte & Megabyte
Megabytes, Gigabytes, Memory, RAM, Hard Drives, Storage Space, what is it exactly that they are talking about? It’s confusing!
Well, it’s all very simple once you can tell them both apart. Without complicating things too much, a computer has memory much like a human has a brain, and has a hard disk drive much like you would use a notepad to write down things that you can’t memorize due to the volume of information to be retained. Also, unlike the human brain, memory in a computer is erased every time you turn it off and on again…or in computer terms, it’s volatile.
So, to save your information, or files if you will, you need a hard drive to write the information down for later use (like taking notes).
Computer memory goes by several different names, but the one we are discussing today is called RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM memory is calculated in megabytes and gigabytes much like millimetres and centimetres are calculated. 1000 kilobytes equals 1 megabyte, and 1000 megabytes equals 1 gigabyte.
Now, there is some confusion for people between hard disk space and memory space. Why is this, simple, because hard disk space is also calculated in megabytes and gigabytes! So, how can you tell them apart easily in the store? Well, fortunately for us right now on the market you buy RAM in megabytes and hard disks in gigabytes. Therefore, the term we learn this month is MEGABYTE (MB) AND GIGABYTE (GB).
RAM (Memory) is sold in megabytes and typically you will find it in the following sizes: 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and so on…(128MB is typical for a computer being sold right now in stores) HARD DISK DRIVES are sold in Gigabytes and typically you will find them in the following sizes: 10GB, 20GB, 60GB…even 160GB! (A hard drive of at least 20GB is enough for the average user).
Taken from: http://www.mrtech.ca/2008/04/15/learn-a-computer-term-gigabyte-megabyte/
Eternal Hard Drive
What is an External Hard Drive?
A hard drive is a computer component that holds data. Every computer needs at least one hard drive to store its operating system, programs and user information. This drive is usually internal, however, as computer systems have evolved and different needs, threats, and circumstances have arisen, the additional external hard drive has become extremely popular.
Internet access regularly exposes computers to potential security threats like Trojan horses, viruses and spyware. It has become increasingly difficult to guard against these threats, even when employing firewalls and antivirus programs. Aside from online threats, multiple family members often use the same system, putting sensitive documents at higher risk of inadvertent corruption or loss. Additionally, the space required for multimedia storage has soared with MP3s, streaming video, DVD burning, and photo files taking up large amounts of space on the hard drive. All of these unrelated concerns can be addressed with one simple answer: an external hard drive.
An external hard drive sits outside the main computer tower in its own enclosure. The enclosure is slightly larger than the hard drive itself, and sometimes contains a cooling fan. This portable encasement allows the user to store information on a hard drive that is not inside the computer, but rests on a tabletop or surface nearby the computer. The external hard drive is connected to the computer via a high-speed interface cable. The interface cable allows the external hard drive to communicate with the computer so that data may be passed back and forth. The most common types of interfaces are USB and Firewire.
A portable or external hard drive is quite a useful piece of equipment. It allows the user to back up or store important information separate from the main internal hard drive, which could become compromised by online or offline activities. Sensitive documents, large music files, DVD images, movies, disk images, and even a backup of the contents of your main internal hard drive, can all be kept securely and safely on an external hard drive. When you are online, you can even leave the external drive turned off.
Another advantage of an external hard drive is that it is portable and operates on a plug-and-play basis. Any computer with USB or Firewire capability will recognize the external hard drive as a storage device, and assign it a letter to designate it. The drive can then be accessed like a normal internal hard drive. It's a snap to transfer huge files back and forth from work to home, to a friend's house, or between your desktop and laptop. Just plug in the interface cable to quickly reconstruct a working environment, making your favorite programs virtually portable.
If you have multiple family members using your computer system, consider an external hard drive to keep financial information and other sensitive documents secure. When you are ready to use the computer, you can plug in the external drive and have all your data and programs available. When finished, simply unplug the drive and take it with you to lock in a drawer or other secure location.
There are inexhaustible reasons to use an external hard drive. You can even buy several hard drives and swap them in and out of the same enclosure, using one for multimedia storage, one for imaging, one for backup, one for work, and so on.
Taken from: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-external-hard-drive.htm
See http://www.lacie.com/ for products.
FireWire
FireWire is one of the fastest peripheral standards ever developed, which makes it great for use with multimedia peripherals such as digital video cameras and other high-speed devices like the latest hard disk drives and printers.
FireWire is integrated into Power Macs, iMacs, eMacs, MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and the iPod. FireWire ports were also integrated into many other computer products dating back to the Power Macintosh G3 "Blue & White" computers. All these machines include FireWire ports that operate at up to 400 megabits per second and the latest machines include FireWire ports that support 1394b and operate at up to 800 megabits per second.
FireWire is a cross-platform implementation of the high-speed serial data bus -- defined by the IEEE 1394-1995, IEEE 1394a-2000, and IEEE 1394b standards -- that can move large amounts of data between computers and peripheral devices. It features simplified cabling, hot swapping, and transfer speeds of up to 800 megabits per second (on machines that support 1394b).
Major manufacturers of multimedia devices have been adopting the FireWire technology, and for good reason. FireWire speeds up the movement of multimedia data and large files and enables easy connection of digital consumer products -- including digital camcorders, digital video tapes, digital video disks, set-top boxes, and music systems -- directly to a personal computer.
In fact, Apple's FireWire technology was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, receiving a 2001 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award for FireWire's impact on the television industry.
Taken from: http://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/firewire/index.html
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FireWire
Connecting your Laptop to your Desktop via Firewire Cable
-Turned both computers on.
-Connected Firewire cable to both computers
-Restarted the computer I wanted to run as a FW HardDrive while holding down "T".
Important Keyboard Symbols
Keyboard shortcuts to use on a Macintosh computer
You can avoid reaching for the mouse if you are familiar with keyboard shortcuts. If you forget one of these, use the mouse and go to the menu bar. In each pull down menu you will see keyboard commands given in the right side of the window.
Commonly used keyboard combinations:
To use one of these combinations hold the Command key down and strike the letter key.
Hint: The command key is the one that people often call "open apple" and is found on either side of the space bar.
Open a new word document quickly
Command N
Opens a previously saved document
Command O
Selects all text and graphics in the active window
Command A
Bold - Formats selected text; make text bold, or remove bold formatting
Command B
Italic - Formats selected text; make text italic or remove italic
Command I
Underline - Formats selected text; make text underlined or remove underline
Command U
Cut- Removes the selection from the active document and places it on the clipboard
Command X
Redo - After an action has been undone, it can be reinstated in the document
Command Z
Copies the selection to the clipboard
Command C
Paste - Inserts the contents of the clipboard at the insertion point (cursor) or whatever is selected
Command V
Prints the active file, also gives the opportunity to change print options.
Command P
Find - Searches for specified text in the active document
Command F
Saves the active document with its current file name, location and format
Command S
Closes the active window but does not quit Word
Command W
Quit - Closes Microsoft Word
Command Q
Less commonly used keyboard combinations:
Increase selected text two points
Command Shift >
Apply superscript formatting
Command Shift +
Decrease selected text two points
Command Shift < style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons">
ommand T Extend selection one character to the right Shift Extend selection one character to the left Shift Extend selection to the end of a word Command Shift Extend selection to the beginning of a word Command Shift If you want to move the cursor: One character to the right One character to the left One word to the right Command One word to the left Command This list is by no means complete. To find other keyboard combinations check the Word help index. (Taken from http://www.internet4classrooms.com/msword_keyboard.htm) Mac Keyboard Shortcuts http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343Websites with Tutorials for Programs to Follow:
http://www.design.iastate.edu/LABS/tutorials/homepage.html
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