PCs All-in-One For Dummies®, 5th Edition

Part I. PC Hardware

Contents at a Glance

Chapter 1: Starting with the Basics 9

• Basic Terms 9

• The Common Components of a Desktop PC 13

• Desktop PCs versus Laptop PCs 18

• RAM and Processors: The Keys to Performance 18

• Your Friend, Your Operating System 20

Chapter 2: Additional Toys Your PC Will Enjoy 21

• Printers 22

• Scanners 25

• Keyboards, Tablets, and Pointing Things 26

• Big-Time Game Controllers 29

• Video and Digital Cameras 30

• External Drives 31

• Surge Protectors and UPS Units 33

Chapter 3: Connectors, Ports, and Sundry Openings 35

• Using USB Stuff 35

• Riding in the Fast Lane with FireWire 37

• Your Fossilized Serial Port 38

• The Once-Renowned Parallel Port 39

• Meet Your Video Port 40

• Audio Connectors You Likely Need 41

• Keyboard and Mouse Ports on Parade 42