Desktop computer
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A stylized illustration of a desktop personal computer
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[edit] History

A sophisticated programmable calculator, the HP 9830A was actually an early desktop computer with printer.
[edit] All-in-one
All-in-One computers are desktop computers that combine the monitor into the same case as the CPU. Apple has manufactured several popular examples of all-in-one computers, such as the original Macintosh of the mid-1980s and the iMac of the late 1990s and 2000s. Some older 8-bit computers, such as the Commodore PET 2001 or Kaypro II, also fit into this category. All-in-One PCs are typically more portable than other desktop PCs and many have been built with carrying handles integrated into the case. They can simply be unplugged and transported to a new location.Like laptops, All-in-One desktop computers are characterized by a comparative lack of upgradeability or hardware customization, as internal hardware is often placed in the back of the visual display unit. Furthermore, in the case of the iMac line since 2002, the CPU and other internal hardware units are, more or less, permanently glued to the motherboard due to space constraints.
However, latest models of the All In One Computer have changed their approach to this issue. Many of the current offerings, like the Handii myFace and others, are using standard off-the-shelf components and are designing upgrade convenience into their products.
[edit] Comparison with laptops
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Main article: Laptop#Disadvantages
Desktops have the advantage over laptops that the spare parts and extensions tend to be standardized, resulting in lower prices and greater availability. For example, the form factor of the motherboard is standardized, like the ATX form factor. Desktops have several standardized expansion slots, like Conventional PCI or PCI express, while laptops only tend to have one mini PCI slot and one PC card slot (or ExpressCard slot). This means that a desktop can be customized and upgraded to a greater extent than laptops. Procedures for (dis-)assembly of desktops tend to be simple and standardized to a great extent too. This tends not to be the case for laptops, though adding or replacing some parts, like the optical drive, hard disk, and adding an extra memory module is often quite simple.Another advantage of desktop is, that (apart from environmental concerns) power consumption is not as critical as in laptop computers because the desktop is powered from the wall socket. Desktop computers also provides more space for heat to escape. The two large microprocessor manufacturers Intel and AMDspecial CPUs for mobile computers (i.e. laptops) that consume less power and lower heat, but with lower performance levels. develop
On the other hand, laptop computers offer portability that desktop systems can not due to their small form factor. Laptops also more commonly integrate wireless technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G, giving them a broader range of options for connecting to the internet, though this trend is changing as more desktop computers come integrated with wireless.
[edit] Operating systems
Main article: Operating system
An operating system is the program that after being initially loaded into the computer by a boot program, manages all the other programs in a computer.Most of today's desktop computers have one of the three major operating systems available. In order of usage share, they are Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Microsoft Windows and Linux can be used for almost any desktop computer, although Mac OS X can be used on some computers that aren't Apple branded, the legality of this is currently disputed. Mac OS has been designed by Apple to only work on Apple computers unless you have an EFI emulator which creates an environment that can boot Mac OS X on a regular PC. New versions of each of these operating systems are released on a semi-regular basis. The newest version of Microsoft Windows is called Windows 7 and is widely regarded as a marked improvement over the previous Windows Vista.[1] The newest version of Mac OS is Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Linux is available in multiple distributions, the more popular being Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE. Each distribution has its own version number and bundled software, but all distributions of Linux contain a Linux kernel.
[edit] Average selling price
For Microsoft Windows systems, the average selling price (ASP) showed a decline in 2008/2009, possibly due to low-cost Netbooks, drawing $569 at U.S. retail in August 2008. In 2009, ASP had further fallen to $533 by January.[2] All in one Mac desktops such as the 21.5 inch iMac start at $1,199. All in one PC's running Windows start at $399.[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Windows 7 review, retrieved 24th February, 2010.
- ^ Netbooks Are Destroying the Laptop Market and Microsoft Needs to Act Now, By: Joe Wilcox, 2009-04-16, eWEEK
[edit] External links
![]() | Wikibooks has a book on the topic of |
- HowStuffWorks Major components of a desktop computer
- Know the parts of your computer
- Learn even more about the parts of your computer
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