Computer Basics & Terminology
If you are new to computers, this page is designed to introduce you to the general terminology. Windows Basics contains some terminology which also applies to Linux and Macintosh operating systems.
Operating Systems | Hardware & Software Basics | Hardware Terminology
Software Versions | Searching for Answers
Operating Systems
The Computer Interface
Operating systems provide the interface between the user (you) and the computer (or other systems) and are a key component when discussing computers.
Their differences dictate a great deal about what hardware will work and the software available to run on any particular computer.
On Computers
Personal computers have been the mainstay of computing since the Apple II and IBM PC replaced mainframes (huge corporate and government computers). At first only businesses could afford PCs, but later they became more affordable.
Current operating systems include various versions of Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux as well as some lesser-known ones like eComStation (formerly IBM OS/2).
In addition to the original desktop computer, there are laptops, net books and other formats.
Other Computer Systems
Computers have now morphed into smaller more compact systems including smart phones and tablets which use less power and are far more portable. Some, like iPods and iPads, require a computer to set them up and maintain them, so are dependent upon your having both technologies available to you.
The current tablet market is dominated by the Apple iPad and Google Android operating systems. Tablets running Microsoft Windows have only a nominal presence in the market.
Hardware & Software Basics
When we refer to a computer, that term includes the hardware, operating system and software:
- Hardware includes the components that make up the physical computer, including the keyboard, hard drive and monitor.
- Software includes the operating system (e.g. Windows or Mac) as well as the programs that run on the computer using that operating system (e.g. Word or Photoshop).
Operating Systems Make Hardware Work
The operating system "talks" to the hardware, allowing your software to run on your particular hardware. Without software, the computer is able to do nothing other than what software is included with your operating system.
In most cases the hardware defines what operating system(s) will work on it. Until recently, Mac software would work only on hardware that didn't support Windows or Linux.
Computer Systems Interdependent
The hardware and software are interdependent — you need newer (and more powerful) hardware to run newer versions of operating systems as well as the programs that run on them. You cannot run software on hardware not designed for it, nor on incompatible operating systems.
Specifications
When you buy a program or a hardware device it will usually have a set of specifications that indicate what operating system it is designed for as well as the minimum hardware requirements (and optimally, the recommended hardware requirements).
Your satisfaction with your purchase will improve the more you exceed the minimum requirements — which is why the recommended requirements are so useful.
If you have a different version of the operating system or if your hardware is not at least as good as the system requirements then you should not buy the program or device.
Windows Experience Rating
Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft has included a "Windows Experience" rating. This evaluates your hardware and tells you how well your computer will perform certain tasks. The higher the score the better, but anything less than 3.0 will mean you will have a less satisfactory experience with even basic tasks.
Apple
Because Apple bundles its operating system with proprietary hardware, this is less of an issue until your computer begins to age.
When Your Computer Slows Down
All computers and software become less powerful as they get older because of technological advances and the software that takes advantage of them. There are some upgrades that can be applied to improve performance but at some point it becomes uneconomical or physically impossible and you'll need to purchase a newer computer.
What are Drivers?
Drivers are specialized software that tells hardware how to work. Most are installed automatically by computers today, but you may need a disk or download the driver from the Internet when you install a new printer or similar device.
Drivers Specific to the Operating System Version
Drivers are designed for a specific piece of hardware to work with a particular operating system at a particular version level. In most cases current computers are smart enough to determine what drivers are required.
If not, you'll need to know the version of the hardware as well as that of your operating system in order to get the correct drivers. This is particularly true when visiting a website to download drivers for your computer's hardware.
Support Varies by Operating System
Support for Windows drivers tends to be excellent — at least for current hardware on the currently-supported versions of Windows.
- Support for older hardware on newer Windows versions or for newer hardware on older versions of Windows is problematic.
- Because Apple hardware is proprietary you should have few problems.
- Linux support tends to be spotty for newer hardware although it has improved tremendously over the last decade.
What does 32-bit and 64-bit Mean?
You'll probably run into the term 32-bit and 64-bit which refers to the capabilities of the hardware and how it addresses (uses) RAM. 64-bit software will only run on 64-bit hardware, but 32-bit software can be run on 64- or 32-bit hardware. However, some 32-bit software and drivers contain 16-bit code which will not run on 64-bit systems — one reason that older hardware may not run on newer systems.
Most current software is 32-bit but most hardware is 64-bit. There is more information here:
- Microsoft's 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions.
- Wikipedia's 64-bit article covers some of the more technical points.
- Catalogue of 64-bit software lists only 64-bit native applications (not 32-bit software that will run on 64-bit systems).
Even though Windows Vista and 7 come in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavours, most Windows users will be more comfortable using 32-bit because it will avoid the issues with poor availability of 64-bit support for hardware devices. However, 64-bit hardware allows for more RAM to be installed. More here ….
Those using 64-bit versions of Linux tend to be more technically literate so the same advice applies.
Hardware Terminology
Hardware is the physical components of the computer like the monitor (screen), mouse, keyboard and printer. These are attached to the main computer case ("box") containing the internal components of your computer.
- RAM is the volatile memory that a computer uses when running. The capacity is usually specified in megabytes or gigabytes.
- Hard Drive is a magnetic storage device. Unlike RAM, information stored in a hard drive does not disappear when the computer is turned off. The capacity is usually specified in gigabytes or terabytes.
- USB is a "smart" hardware interface that connects many external hardware devices to your computer such as mice, printers, external hard drives, flash drives and more. The device tells the computer what it is and the requirements to run it so that the necessary drivers can be installed.
- Flash drives (sometimes referred to as USB keys or thumb drives) are small USB drives that are very portable and can be used to store data. These have largely replaced the old floppy drives of earlier years as well as CDs for temporary storage.
- Modem refers to the device that connects you to the Internet. Most people have high speed Internet using either a cable modem (where a cable TV vendor is the provider) or ADSL modem (where a telephone company is the provider). In earlier days people used dial-up, connecting temporarily over a telephone modem.
- Router is a device between your modem and your computer that both provides "hardware" firewall protection and allows you to connect more than one computer to a modem using either a wired or wireless connection.
- Network adapter is a hardware interface between the computer and either the modem or the router. A wired connection uses a network cable but a wireless (WLAN) connection uses radio signals to connect to the network and Internet through a wireless router.
Note: drives and drivers refer to different purposes. Drives are hardware; drivers are software.
Software Versions
Major and Minor Upgrades
Software versions tend to run in major and minor upgrades, providing free updates within minor revisions but charging for major upgrades. Often vendors give a discounted "upgrade price" to existing product owners to encourage them to stay current with their software.
Firefox: An Example
A much earlier version of FireFox was version 3.6.13.
- The first number (3) indicates the major revision.
- The second number (6) indicates a minor revision.
- The last number (13) indicates a minor upgrade in this series.
Since Firefox was released at version 1.0 there have been eight major updates (2.0 through 9.0) although 1.5 was also considered a significant update (Firefox jumped from version 1.07 to 1.5). Firefox is currently at version 10 and versions 11 & 12 are in beta (a testing phase).
Some revision numbering can be confusing, particularly when a vendor skips a major version increment to appear to be at the same level as a competitor or considers a normally-minor update to be a major update such as our Firefox 1.5 example above.
Finding the Version
Finding the version number varies by operating system and product but is usually indicated in the help menu.
Windows users can learn about the current program by clicking on the Help menu then selecting the About menu. Our example software (Firefox) has its information in About Mozilla Firefox.
What is Beta Software?
Betas are Pre-release Software
Beta software is software that is released after its initial in-house testing (alpha) into the field to determine how it performs with other software and equipment.
Tracking Beta Versions
Pre-release betas (new, never released software) are generally assigned a "0" for their major release (e.g. version 0.4), moving the minor number higher as it gets closer to final release.
When the software is released to the public the product usually considered to be at version 1.0. Future betas generally carry the major revision number as when they are released.
For Experience Users Only
Beta software should not be downloaded except by experienced users and not on production equipment (computers that you need to be dependable). Beta testing is best reserved for knowledgeable users that want to test upcoming or leading-edge software and are aware of the risks that unreliable software can pose to their computers and data.
Searching for Answers
If you didn't find what you want Google Search can help you find answers or you can choose from various other search engines.
Typing in a phrase will help you to find what you're looking for (e.g. "HP color laserjet cp1215 drivers"). The more specific you are the more likely you are to find what you need. Google and other search engines will usually offer suggestions as you begin to type in your search terms.
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Updated: January 31, 2012