Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

1.4 Types of
Computers
Section 1.4
Chapter 1 – Types and components
of computer systems
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

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 SYLLABUS OBJECTIVES
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

• Characteristics of a desktop computer

– Uses of a desktop computer including office and business
management, education, gaming and entertainment
• Characteristics of mobile computers including laptop
computers, smartphones, tablet and phablet
computers
– Uses of mobile computers including office and business
management, education, gaming, entertainment and
remotely controlled devices
• Advantages and disadvantages of the different types
of computer including portability and expandability
 SUCCESS CRITERIA
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

You Must: Identify the different types of

computers.

You Should: Differentiate between the

different types of computers based on
their advantages and disadvantages.
 1.4.1 Desktop/Personal Computer
• Desktop usually refers to a general-purpose computer that
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

is made up of separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and

processor unit.
Advantages of Desktop over Laptop Disadvantages of Desktop over
Laptop
• Lower costs • Not portable
• Desktop computers are easier and less • They tend to be more complicated
expensive, to upgrade or expand. because all the components need to be
• The desktop tends to have a better hooked up by wiring, which also clutters
specification for a given price up the desk space.
• Power consumption is not critical • Because they are not particularly
because they usually plug straight into a portable, it is necessary to copy files on,
wall socket for example, a memory stick
• Because they are usually fixed in one
location, there is less likelihood of them
being damaged or stolen.
• Internet access can be more stable due
to wired connection

• Uses:
• office and business work (word processing, spreadsheets, finance software and
databases being the main use)
• educational use (using interactive software to teach or learn from)
• gaming device (for example, games such as chess, crossword puzzles and so on)
• general entertainment (for example, live or ‘catch-up’ streaming of television
programmes).
 1.4. 2 Mobile computers:
» laptop computers » smartphones » tablets » phablets.
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

Laptop /Notebook
Laptop (or notebook) refers to a type of computer where the monitor, keyboard, pointing device
and processor are all together in one single unit.
Key features:
• lightweight
• low power consumption
• low heat output

Advantages over desktop computers: Disadvantages over desktop computers:

• Portability; they can be taken anywhere • Because they are easily portable, they are
because the monitor, pointing device, also easier to steal!
keyboard, processor and backing store units • They have limited battery life so the user may
are all together in one single unit. need to carry a heavy power adaptor.
• No trailing wires • The keyboards and pointing devices can
• They take up much less room on a desk, so sometimes be more awkward to use.
they can be used anywhere • It is not always possible to upgrade them, for
• Their portability allows them to take full instance by adding more RAM.
advantage of Wi-Fi features.

• Uses: office and business work

• educational use
• general entertainment
• used in control and monitoring
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems
Smart Phone
Smartphones allow normal phone calls to be made, but also have an operating system
(such as iOS, Android or Windows) allowing them to run a number of computer
applications. Features:
• high-definition, anti-glare displays
• front- and back-facing
• lower weight and longer battery life than laptops
• use Bluetooth for connection to printers and other devices
• make use of flash (solid state) memory and cloud storage facilities to back up
and synchronise (often just referred to as ‘sync’) data sources
• they use a number of sensors

Advantages of smartphones Disadvantages of smartphones:

• Very small in size and lightweight • The small screens and keyboards
• Make phone calls, connect to the make pages difficult to read.
internet while on the move. • More difficult and slower when
• Can be used almost anywhere typing things in
• They have apps which make use of • Web browsing and photography
sensor data provided by the can quickly drain the battery.
smartphone • Memory size in most phones is
• They have a reasonable battery not very large when compared to
life compared to laptops laptops and desktops
• Not all websites are compatible to
view in a smartphone
• May be lost due to small size
• Data transfer maybe slower
 Tablet Computer
• Tablets are becoming an increasingly used type of mobile
computer. They work in a similar way to a smartphone. Tablets
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

use touch screen technology and do not have a conventional

keyboard. The keyboard is virtual

Advantages of tablets compared to Disadvantages of tablets compared

laptops: to laptops:
• very fast to switch on • tend to be rather expensive
• fully portable when compared to laptops
• they are so lightweight • limited memory or storage when
• touch screen technology compared to a laptop
• can use several apps as standard • if 3G/4G/5G mobile phone
• not much heat – they use solid-state networks are used, they can be
technology expensive to run if the internet is
• battery life of a tablet is a lot longer being accessed frequently
• typing on a touch screen can be
slow and error-prone
• lack of ‘drag and drop’ facility
can prove to be irritating to users
 TASK 1 – PAST PAPER QUESTION
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems
 TASK 1 – ANSWER
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems
 Phablet
Latest smartphones have been designed as a hybrid between a tablet
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

and a smartphone; these are referred to as a phablet. They have much

larger screens than a smartphone but are smaller than a tablet.

The main uses of smartphones, tablets and phablets include:

entertainment
gaming
as a camera or video camera
internet use
sending/receiving emails
global positioning system
calendar functions
telephone banking
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
instant access to social networks
instant messaging
office and business management
 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each type of
computer
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

Type Advantages Disadvantages

Desktop/ • Always connected to the mains. • Not portable
Personal • Monitors can come in any sizes • Takes up more desk space.
Computer • Can be upgraded and parts easily • Separate components like keyboard,
replaced. mouse, monitor, speakers etc.
• Tend to have a higher specifications than • Loose cables which could be trip
laptop computers. hazards.
Laptop • Its portable due to small size and weight. • Limited battery life.
Computer • Battery can be recharged. • Laptops are difficult to repair and
• Can connect wireless to internet. upgrade.
• No loose cables. All components • Can be stolen or lost.
connected together. • Some users find it difficult to use
pointing device.
Tablet • High definition anti glare display. • Limited memory compared to laptops.
Computer • Wireless , 3G/4G & Bluetooth connection. • Expensive to use 3G/4G internet
• Data can backed up or synchronised with • Typing can be more difficult compared to
other devices. a normal keyboard.
• Touch screen technology • Not all files are compatible with tablets.
• Battery life longer than a mobile phone.
Smart Phone • Small in size and easier to carry around. • Small screens make it difficult to read.
• Can be used whilst on the move using • Battery life is short
wireless or 3G/4G Connectivity. • Could be misplaced or stolen
• Touch screen technology • Limited storage/memory compared to
other types of computers.
• Slow data transfer rates
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems

TASK 2
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 PLENARY – PAST PAPER QUESTION
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems
 PLENARY – PAST PAPER QUESTION
Chapter 1: Types and components of computer systems