Computer Basics

Purpose: This is an elementary class on hardware fundamentals with a brief excursion into elementary operating system concepts, 90 minutes in length.

Overview: Personal computing hardware have evolved rapidly in capability and shrunk in cost and size since first introduced in the latter half of the 1970s, but the building blocks of PCs remain the same. Knowing those components and how they interact empowers computing users, but helping them save money, make better choices when purchasing equipment, and prolong the longevity of their computing systems as well as protect their data.

Hardware

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Data

Anything you type, draw, record, or download to keep, is your data,

Internet

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) bring you a connection to and from the Internet, which is essential for email, web browsing and other data services such as on-line backup.

DSL

DSL is provided by telephone companies, who put radio signals over the phone lines. Since telephone companies are better regulated than cable and wireless companies, it's easier to get a DSL connection to an ISP different than the phone company.

The further you are from the telephone company central office, the more difficult it is to keep those radio signals clean and free from interference, and since phone lines are not laid down as the crow flies, it can be difficult sometimes to get a good DSL connection, and DSL connections are rarely as fast as cable or fiber optic, though they do tend to be better than commercial wireless ISP connections.

On the other hand, DSL doesn't vary its speed like cable and wireless can. Cable modem systems share the cable with many of your neighbors, so when everyone gets on line, your speed dips, sometimes severely. Wireless connections also drop in speed when more users near you go on line.

Shared connection

Security, security, security!

SUMMARY

• Keep your guard up! Malware is the number one cause of data loss in the Pacific North West.
  • Never install software from an unknown source.
  • Never open email with data attached in email clients (e.g., Claws, Evolution, Thunderbird) on your PC.
  • Use protection in your Firefox web browser: AdBlock or AdBlock Plus, Better Privacy, Ghostery, NoScript, Self-Destructing Cookies, Facebook Disconnect, Google Disconnect and Twitter Disconnect, and Web of Trust are some of today's protective add-on extensions to Firefox. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/extensions/privacy-security lists more.
• Keep your computer clean. The number two cause of PC failure in the NW is dust and animal hair buildup inside, which blocks cooling and leads to overheating, heat damage, and burnt out components.
• The number three cause of failure is caused by electrical power problems; surges, spikes, lightning strikes, blackouts and brownouts. Look for surge protectors who offer damage coverage on systems they protect, and fill in the little card which registers your system. Adequate surge protectors have a UL 1449 standard rating of no more than 330v, and protectors which advertise lower maximum over-voltages (like the APC Net series) are even better protection.
• The fourth cause of failure is also caused by electrical power problems; blackouts and brownouts. A battery backup is a good idea for desktop computers and an essential for network servers.
• Back up your computer. Anything mechanical or electronic will fail, sooner or later. Your backup plan should give you the ability to restore your system as well as duplicate your data so if your system fails, is stolen or destroyed, you can restore it without loss.