Personal Computer Checklist
| Publication year | 1993 |
| Pages | 1257 |
1993, June, Pg. 1257. Personal Computer Checklist
Paul Simon's popular song "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" metaphorically sings a relevant tune to Personal Computer ("PC") users who fail to pay attention to their PCs. Approximately one out of every three, or from forty to fifty million, people in the U.S. rely on the PC. For most, the PC is a work tool for survival.
PC users, sooner or later, experience a "crash." Often it is related to new software or hardware with which the user is unfamiliar. At the very least, a crash will result in decreased office production and lost income for hours or days. At its worst, a technical specialist may need to be consulted. As PC software applications are added to the menus of PC users, as in the song, if you are not faithful to the "care and feeding" of your PC, there are "fifty ways to lose your PC." Here is a list of thirty-six ways to help you reduce the chances of losing---even temporarily---your PC resources.
1. Know the software that you want to run---software still dictates hardware.
2. Know the fundamental system and operating differences among MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows Graphical Environment and Macintosh.
3. Know machine types. For MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows, the IBM or compatible PC-XT and PC-AT or equivalent are appropriate; for the Macintosh, use the Mac SE, Mac Plus, Mac Classic and Quadra.
4. Know processor types: for DOS, Intel 80286, 386, 486, and i486 or equivalent; for the Macintosh, Motorola 680X0.
5. Know the meaning of byte, kilobyte ("Kbyte") and megabyte ("MB").
6. Know the meaning of drive types (diskette, hard and RAM).
7. Know the meaning of RAM memory and conventional memory (640 Kbyte), and inquire about upper, expanded and extended system memory.
8. Understand the different storage capacities for hard, 51/2" floppy, and 31/2" diskettes.
9. Know the meaning of double sided/double density and double sided/high density diskettes and which your system will use.
10. Inquire about I/O (input/output) serial and parallel ports and cables.
11. Learn about bootable disks, format and Operating Systems; for MSDOS versions (3.0, 3.3, 5.0 and 6.0) or equivalent; for Macintosh versions (Mac System 6 and 7).
12. Know the...
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