Workstations are the highest-end types of personal computers. They are often connected to a local area network and have a large screen and large amounts of RAM. They often run multi-user operating systems and are used for computationally intensive applications like engineering, desktop publishing, and software development. Some workstations are also used for playing games and surfing the Internet.
Most modern computers run Microsoft Windows or the Apple Macintosh operating systems. Other operating systems, including Linux, are also popular. Windows accounts for over half of all personal computers, and Apple's Mac OS has become one of the most popular desktop operating systems. Several free operating systems are also available, such as Linux, which has more than 300 different versions. Ubuntu-Linux is one of the most popular Linux distributions.
In the 1970s, CTC now called Data point, developed the Data point 2200 programmable terminal. It was a complete system housed in a small case. It used a programmable microprocessor, which had a lot of discrete components. The Data point 2200 was not the company's first attempt at the PC market.
A desktop computer should have a hard drive that is 7,200-rpm. It should also have an external optical drive, which can be bought for $20 to $30. Video cards, or graphics-processing units, are an important part of a modern computer and can be integrated into the processor chip or separate pieces of equipment. Many models today also have a modem for connecting to the computer network. In addition, modern PCs have various ports and sockets. The most popular ones are USB ports.
Personal computers are widely used in offices and homes. The IBM PC was released in 1981. Other models of personal computers include the Apple II, Commodore PET, and the Xerox Alto platform. However, the IBM PC is the most popular and widely used. In fact, it was the first computer to introduce the word "personal computer" to the world.
PCs are more portable than laptops. A laptop has a keyboard attached to the top of the unit, while a tablet uses a keyboard. Tablets are thin mobile computers with touchscreen displays and are perfect for reading eBooks, browsing the Internet, and watching videos. A desktop is also the least expensive option and can be upgraded easily.
A desktop computer is a specialized type of computer. It is made of a metal chassis and includes the power supply, motherboard, hard drive, and an optical disc drive. Desktop PCs has chassis, while towers are built for portability. They also include pointing devices and touchscreens. Most desktops feature one or more PCs with multiple expansion slots. They also have an AGP or PCI expansion bus.
Personal computers can be divided into two types: IBM PC compatibles and Apple Macintoshes. These types of computers have standardized CPUs. Personal computers are often linked together in networks. In addition, many PCs can be upgraded. The central processing unit and main memory are two examples of upgradeable devices.