Using Peripherals Using Peripherals Ports
A computer may have several ports for connecting peripheral devices such as a trackball, expanded keyboard, flatbed scanner, touch screen, and other device peripherals. It is wise to check what type of port an adaptive device requires to interface with the personal computer. Some computers have many ports, and others may only have a select few of the ports below. An adapter will be needed if the port of the computer does not match with the connector of an adaptive device.
A serial port is used to connect external modems or an older computer mouse to the computer. It comes in two versions a 9-pin version (on the left) or a 25-pin model. The 9-pin is found on most newer computers. Data travels over a serial port at 115 kilobits per second.
A parallel port is used to connect external devices such as scanners and printers. The 25-pin port is sometimes it is called a printer port.
A PS/2 port, sometimes called a mouse port, was developed by IBM. It is used to to connect a computer mouse or keyboard. Most computers come with two PS/2 ports. Sometimes it is not necessary to use a mouse port, as some keyboards and mice can be used with a USB port.
Using Peripherals A universal serial bus port (USB) is a fairly new port - introduced around 1997, used to connect all kinds of external devices, such as external hard drives, printers, mice, scanners and more. There are normally two half-inch long USB ports on the back of computers built since 1998. Sometimes there are USB ports built into a hatch on the front of a computer. The advantage of purchasing hardware that connect via USB is that the computer does not have to be turned off when hardware is connected or disconnected (Hot-Swap).
Video DB9-15 Port is used to attached a computer display monitor to a computer's video card. The connector has 15 holes. It sort of looks like a serial port connector, however that port has pins not holes in it.
A modem port looks like a standard North American telephone jack. This connects an internal modem to a telephone line. A modem is used to connected a computer to the Internet by making a data call to an Internet service. For faster Internet connections and for networking, an Ethernet or network port is used. This looks like an oversized North American telephone jack. This port can lead either to a network hub (a junction box that can wire lots of network cables together) or directly to a cable modem or DSL modem. The "ACT" light flickers when data is moving through the network to or from the port. Most newer computers have one of these ports. They can either be built-in to or appear on the exposed part of an Ethernet PCI card, which inserts into a slot inside the computer. 2

Using Peripherals

A USB hub connects any number of USB devices to a single USB port. The image at the left shows a 2 port USB hub. The "Hot-Swap" design lets you connect & disconnect devices with out restarting your computer.
The firewire or IEEE 1394 port is used to transfer large amounts of data very quickly. Usually camcorders and other video equipment use this port to get data onto a computer.
The S-Video port allows you to hook your computer to any NTSC or PAL system television set for big screen presentation or video games.

Hardware

1. Zip Drive Iomegas Zip Drive User Manual http://www.iomega.com/support/manuals/zip1u/get_start.html
2. Scanner Using the HP Scanner: Scan Jet 4200C http://webster.gtcc.cc.nc.us/instructional_technologies/tutorial_documents/Using% 20the%20HP%20Scanner_101601.doc
3. CD Writer (Burner) CD Writers can be internal or external. They come with software that enables the user to compile data on a CD. The two basic software titles are: Roxio http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/isa/inst_support/Warner/Roxio.pdf Nero http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/helpcentre/cdwriting/nero/index.xml?style=printabl e#body.1_div.1 The CD Writer can compile data on a CDR or a CD-RW. Generally, a CDR (CD Recordable) can be recorded on only once. A CD-RW (CD Re-Write) can be used more than once as data can be deleted or added. The CD-RW may run into compatibility problems when placed in another computer. CD Writers come in a variety of speeds with 58x currently being the fastest, however software will only function at 48x. 4. Digital Cameras Consumer Report http://www.consumerreports.org/ Digital camera recommendations: Choose a digital camera based on the kind of
photography you do. All the brands listed below had low repair rates, according to our latest survey. If youre a casual snapshooter: Canon PowerShot A40, $250 Kodak EasyShare DX4330, $300 Fujifilm FinePix 3800, $400
5. PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants or Palm Pilots) Free Applications http://www.fcds.org/academic/technology/handheld_at_FCDS/Free_Apps.htm 101 Additional Educational Uses For Your Handheld Computer http://www.fcds.org/academic/technology/handheld_at_FCDS/resources/101_e ducational_uses_palms.htm Using a Palm in School http://www.palm.com/education/studies Consumer Reports PDAs http://www.consumerreports.org (See PDAs)

Personal digital assistants, or PDAs are now owned by one out of six Americans in recent years. PDAs can store years of appointments, thousands of addresses and phone numbers, and to-do lists that would keep you busy for decades. And they can synchronize with your computer so that the same data will be in your pocket and on your desktop. More models now have color screens and include slots for add-on devices such as memoryexpansion cards, modems, and digital cameras. Some let you access the Internet wirelessly, play MP3 music, or take dictation. You'll also find PDAs that double as cell phones. Prices
range from about $100 to $600 or so, depending on capabilities. The Internet and cell phone connectivity service will be an additional monthly fee. Consumer Reports tested a variety of models at different price points, judging ease of use, battery life, screen clarity, usability of bundled software, and expandability.

PALM OR POCKET PC?

Palm: The Palm operating system (OS) now powers PDAs sold by HandEra, Handspring, and Sony as well as Palm. Palms: Price: $100 to $500 Smaller, lighter, and less expensive than Pocket PCs. Software applications are widely available, sometimes as free downloads. Have very good battery life Are compatible with PC and Macintosh computers and a variety of desktop software applications. Pocket PC: Run a mini version of Windows and come with scaled-down versions of Word, Excel, Outlook (for calendars, contacts, and e-mail), and more. Can play video clips and MP3 music, and some include software for showing photos. Have less add-on software available Are more powerful and have more memory than Palm models, but they cost more (about $350 to $600) and are a bit larger and heavier. Do not synchronize with Macintosh computers; they work only with Windows PCs and Microsoft desktop applications.

COLOR OR MONOCHROME?

o o o o Color displays offer no real advantage for basic tasks like adding an entry to your address book. You can view pictures or videos in color. Color screens exhaust batteries more quickly. Monochrome screens seem more legible in bright light.
Consumer Report Suggestions: Sony Cli PEG-S360 HandEra 330 Samsung SPH-I300 Casio BE-300

ENTERING DATA:

o o Use a stylus on the touch-sensitive screen. Tap an onscreen keyboard. Use a shorthand called Graffiti to print stylized letters and numerals (Palm only). Attach an external keyboard for typing in data (about $40 to $100)
o o Accept information via an infrared link with a compatible PDA or other device, a process called "beaming." Synchronize with a computer containing the desired data. (9Pocket PC PDAs link only to PCs. Most Palm-based PDAs can work with PCs or Macs; Sony models link only to PCs.) To synchronize, you plug a docking station or cable that comes with the PDA into the computer's universal serial bus port or serial port (adapters are available).

BATTERIES

o o o A few PDAs use AAA batteries. Some PDAs use lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged. Batteries for the monochrome screen which lasts about 7 weeks at a half hour of use per day. The color-screen PDAs lasted about 3 to 10 hours.

MEMORY

o o Palm-OS PDAs include 7 to 16 megabytes (MB) of usable memory Pocket PCs offer 32 or 64 MB.
Consumer Reports recommend that the Pocket PC models make the best use of added memory. Their operating systems allow you to access files on the memory cards with dragand-drop simplicity. And all Pocket PCs can play MP3 songs and other types of large multimedia files that you might store on memory cards. Next best in terms of using added memory are Sony and Palm PDAs with Palm-OS version 4.0 or higher. They can make direct use of memory-card files when using new applications. With an older Palm OS (version 3.5), found on the Handspring and HandEra PDAs, you must move files from the memory card into the PDA's onboard memory before programs can use them. Even with Palm OS 4.0, you may have to use the file-moving procedure with older applications.

WHICH PDA FOR YOU?

Consumer Reports suggests: If you're new to PDAs: Consider the Sony CLIE PEG-SJ20 or the Palm Zire, two models that have monochrome displays and the resulting excellent battery life. The Sony can be viewed in dim light, includes office software, and has 15 MB of available memory, which can be expanded. The display on the Palm is more readable except in dim light. It has 2 MB of available memory, which can't be expanded. Neither model has replaceable batteries. Both are compatible with Macintoshes. If you're replacing a Palm OS unit: Your best choices are the Palm m515 or Palm Tungsten T. Both have ample built-in memory, an expansion slot, and a color display. The Palm m515 has somewhat better battery life and can run most third-party software you might already use. The Tungsten T has a more powerful processor and the newest operating system, Palm OS 5. The extra horsepower is useful for multimedia. If you need power and room for multimedia: The Palm Zire 71, Sony CLIE PEG-NX70V, and the Dell AXIM X5 -400MHz all have fast processors, expandable memory, and color displays. The Zire 71 is the least expensive PDA with a camera. It has a very good display and the latest operating system, Palm OS 5. The Dell Axim has two expansion slots, so you can add memory while using a peripheral. It's better equipped than other Pocket PCs for running programs simultaneously. And the higher price for the Sony, $600, gets you a built-in keyboard, a large display for a Palm OS model, and a digital camera with the same resolution as that of the Zire 71.