PCs For Dummies® Windows®, 7 Edition

Chapter 2. Your Basic PC Tour

In This Chapter

• Recognizing different types of PCs

• Looking at the basic PC hardware

• Perusing items on the console

• Locating PC connectors, holes, and jacks

• Using helpful symbols and colors

The very first PCs were not known for their stunning, aerodynamic designs. They were hefty metal boxes — intimidating, beige. By contrast, today's PCs have a sleek, almost aerodynamic, design to them. They can come in a wide array of bold colors. Some newer models sport ominous internal lighting, an evil glowing red or a cool blue, hinting at some internal, hideous intelligence.

Well, forget anything about computer hardware being intelligent. In a computer system, the hardware plays a subservient role to software, which is the real brain. Still, it's important to know about basic computer hardware. This chapter provides a quick overview, showing things you'll find on a PC that can be interesting and useful.

Note

Even though your PC may sport an aerodynamic design, that doesn't imply flightworthiness — despite any desire you may have to hurl the computer out a window.

The Mundane PC

Figure 2-1 shows a typical personal computer system. Try to avoid the urge to yawn.

Figure 2.1. Basic computer things.

The big, important pieces have been labeled in Figure 2-1 for your enjoyment. You should know which piece is which and what the proper terms are:

Console:

The main computer box is the console, ...