Phones, tablets, laptops and desktops
The four kinds of computers you'll use most, what each is good for, and the parts inside all of them.
Phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. Which is which, and what is each one good for?
Four kinds of computers
Computers come in different shapes and sizes. Here are the four you'll meet most. A smartphone is small enough to carry everywhere. You use it with your fingers on the touchscreen. A tablet is like a big phone. The larger screen is great for reading, watching videos and drawing. A laptop has a screen and a keyboard joined together. It folds up so you can carry it in a bag. A desktop computer stays on a desk. It usually has a separate screen, keyboard and mouse.
What is each one good for?
Phones and tablets are best when you're on the move: for calls, chats, photos and quick searches. Laptops and desktops are better for long typing, schoolwork, spreadsheets and most office jobs. Many people learn on a phone first, and that's fine. Almost everything in this course works on a phone.
The parts of a desktop computer
Let's look at the parts of a desktop computer. The monitor is the screen. It shows you what the computer is doing. The keyboard is for typing letters, numbers and commands. The mouse moves a pointer around the screen so you can point and click. And the system unit, sometimes called the tower, is the box that holds the processor, memory and storage.
Inside every one of them
Inside, all four kinds of computers have the same main parts. A processor, the brain that does the work. Memory, also called RAM. It's short-term working space, used while apps are open. Storage, which keeps your apps, photos and files, even when the device is switched off. And phones, tablets and laptops have a battery, so they can work without being plugged in.
New word: Gigabyte (GB)
You'll often see the word gigabyte, written G B. It measures space. A phone with 128 gigabytes of storage can hold thousands of photos. Your mobile data bundle is measured in gigabytes too.
Quick check
Quick check. Amina has to type a long school report. Which device makes it easiest? A laptop. A full keyboard and a bigger screen make long typing much easier, though you can still do it on a phone. Options: A small phone; A laptop with a keyboard; A TV; A calculator.
Recap
Phones and tablets have touchscreens and are easy to carry. Laptops and desktops have keyboards and bigger screens. All of them have a processor, memory and storage. And storage is measured in gigabytes.
Key points
- Smartphones and tablets use touchscreens and are easy to carry. Laptops and desktops have keyboards and bigger screens.
- A desktop has a monitor, keyboard, mouse and system unit.
- Every computer has a processor (the brain), memory or RAM (short-term working space) and storage (long-term space for files).
- Storage and data are measured in gigabytes (GB).
Try it: Get to know your own device
Open your phone or computer and find these things. Tick each one when you're done.