Task 9. Read the text again and answer these questions

1. According to the writer, what is the importance of ‘pixel resolution’?

2. Which unit of frequency is used to measure the refresh rate of a monitor?

3. In the writer’ s opinion, why can a low refresh rate produce eye fatigue?

4. What substance is hit by electrons in a monitor?

5. What is the standard display system for many PCs?

6. What does ‘LCD’ stand for? What type of computers use LCD displays?

Task 10. Read the text below and complete it with the phrases in the box.

applications software operating system software system software

Information provided by programs and data is known as (1) ______. Programs are sets of instructions that make the computer execute operations and tasks. There are two main types of software:

1) The (2) ______ refers to all the programs which control the basic functions of a computer. They include operating systems, system utilities (e.g. an anti-virus program, a back-up utility) and language translators (e.g. a compiler – the software that translates instructions into machine code).

2) The (3) ______ refers to all those applications – such as word processors and spreadsheets – which are used for specific purposes. Applications are usually stored on disks loaded into the RAM memory when activated by the user.

3) The (4) ______ is the most important type of system software. It is usually supplied by the manufactures and comprises a set of programs and files that control the hardware and software resources of a computer system. It controls all the elements that the user sees, and it communicates directly with the computer. In most configurations, the OS is automatically loaded into the RAM section when the computer is started up.

Task 11. Read the text and find:

- the text-based operating system used in older PCs.

- the most secure and reliable version of the Windows family.

- the OS designed for handheld computers.

- the function of the Finder in Macintosh computers.

- the meaning of multi-tasking.

- the OS written in C language and used on minicomputers and workstations.

- the OS that is freely redistributable under the GNU general public licence.

- the OS originally developed to run on SPARC workstations.

Operating systems

MS-DOS

This operating system was developed by Microsoft in 1981 for all IBM PC compatibles. Today it’s only used in old PCs. In this text-based OS, you communicate with the computer by typing commands that exist within its library. For example, some basic DOS commands include: DIR (shows a list of all the files in a directory), COPY (makes a duplicate of a file), DEL (deletes files).

WINDOWS

Most home PCs use Windows. Here are the most recent versions:

- With Windows 98, Internet access becomes part of the user interface. Its active desktop lets you find information easily with the same view of content on your PC, network or the Web. The system includes Outlook Express for e-mail, NetMeeting conferencing software, a chat program and a Web-page editor. It offers advancements such as USB and multimedia extensions.

- Windows 2000 is built upon the Windows NT architecture and designed for business uses.

- Windows Millennium is designed for home use. It includes new system safeguards and support for DVD, music players and mobile computers.

- Windows XP is an update to all Windows versions, with a new visual design. It’ s more secure and reliable. It offers support for the latest technologies.

POCKET PC (Microsoft)

This OS is developed for handheld computers (or palmtops) that use a stylus or a small keyboard for input.

MAC OS

The Mac OS combines the elegance of Macintosh and the power of UNIX. Large parts of the Mac OS are inside the System file and the Finder, kept in the System folder. The content of the System file is loaded automatically at start-up, and contains information which modifies the routines of the OS in the ROM chips. The Finder displays the Macintosh’s desktop and enables the user to work with disks, programs and files. With the new Mac OS, you can create CDs and record DVDs. It also offers Internet capabilities, support for Java, and AirPort technology for wireless connections.

OS/2 WARP (IBM)

This is the PC world’ s most technically sophisticated operating system. It provides true multi-tasking, allowing a program to be divided into ‘threads’, many of which can run at the same time. Thus, not only can numerous programs run simultaneously, but one program can perform numerous tasks at the same time. The IBM OS/2 Warp includes easy access to networks via modem, support for Java applications, and voice recognition technology.

UNIX

This OS, designed by Bell laboratories for minicomputers and workstations, has been widely adopted by many corporate installations. From the very first, it was designed to be a multi-tasking system. It is written in C language. It has become an operating environment for software development, available for any type of machine, from IBM PCs to Macs to Cray supercomputers. Unix is the most commonly used system for advanced CAD programs.

LINUX (Linus Torvalds)

Protected under the GNU general public licence, Linux is the open source, cooperatively-developed POSIX-based, multi-tasking operating system. Linux is used as a high value, fully-functional UNIX workstation for applications ranging from Internet Servers to reliable work group computing. Linux is available for Intel, Alpha and Sun SPARC platforms.

SOLARIS

This is a Unix-based operating system developed by Sun Microsystems. Originally designed to run on SPARC workstations, today Solaris also runs on many Pentium servers. It supports multi-processing – many CPUs and processes on a single system. It includes Java technology, which allows Web pages to display animation, play music and interact with information.

Task 12. Read the text and find definitions of these items.

1 menu 3 window 5 pointer

2 interface 4 active window 6 icon

Most computers have a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The interface is the connection between the user and the computer. The most common type of GUI uses a WIMP system. WIMP stands for Window, Icon, Menu (or Mouse), Pointer (or Pull-down/Pop-up menu).

A window is an area of the computer screen where you can see the contents of a folder, a file, or a program. Some systems allow several windows on the screen at the same time and windows can overlap each other. The window on the top is the one which is ‘active’, the one in use.

Icons are small pictures on the screen. They represent programs, folders, or files. For example, the Recycle Bin icon represents a program for deleting and restoring files. Most systems have a special area of the screen on which icons appear.

Menus give the user a list of choices. You operate the menu by pressing and releasing one or more buttons on the mouse.

The pointer is the arrow you use to select icons or to choose options from a menu. You move the pointer across the screen with the mouse. Then you click a button on the mouse to use the object selected by the pointer.