This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Answers and Explanations
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A, B. High-performance hard drives, image scanners, removable-media drives—such as Zip, Jaz, and Castlewood Orb—and other devices use SCSI interfaces.
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A, C. You can add USB ports to a computer by implementing a USB hub and by installing an add-on USB expansion card. However, if you require USB 2.0 ports, a USB 1.1 expansion card does not work. Any devices connected to the USB 1.1 card are limited to USB 1.1 speeds. Ethernet hubs enable a person to connect more computers to a network, usually by way of RJ-45 ports.
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B. A PC's serial ports are usually called COM ports. Serial ports can also be used to connect docking stations and digital cameras.
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B. You can use a parallel port to hook up all the items listed in the question. Most motherboards still come with this port, even though USB is much faster and more popular.
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C. FireWire is Apple Inc.'s brand name for the IEEE 1394 standard. IEEE 1394 is a family of high-speed, bidirectional, serial transmission ports that can connect PCs to each other, digital devices to PCs, or digital devices to each other.
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D. In some ATX/BTX port clusters, the bottom PS/2 port is used for keyboards, and the top PS/2 port is used for mice and pointing devices. On systems and devices that use the standard PC99 color coding for ports, PS/2 keyboard ports (and cable ends) are purple, and PS/2 mouse ports (and cable ends) are green.
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B. The 1/8-inch audio mini-jack is used by sound cards and motherboard-integrated sound for speakers, microphone, and line-in jacks. Also, to avoid confusion, most recent systems have color-coded jacks.
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A, B, and D. USB 1.1, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 are the three current standards for USB ports. USB 3.0 is the newer and faster of the three.
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A, B, and C. If you need more ports for USB devices, your options are motherboard connectors, USB hubs, and add-on cards.
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D. The keyboard remains the primary method used to send commands to the computer and enter data. There are many shortcuts that can take the place of actions that would be otherwise accomplished with the mouse—for example, Ctrl+X is cut, Ctrl+C is copy, and so on. You can even use it to maneuver around the Windows Desktop if your mouse or other pointing device stops working.
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A. Touch screen monitors enable the user to transfer data into the computer by pressing on-screen icons. Touch screen monitors are very popular in public-access and point-of-sale installations.
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D. All listed devices are considered multimedia devices. The webcam, sound card, and microphone give you the ability to make Internet phone calls, for example.
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C. The Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector is by far the most common keyboard and mouse connector in today's computers. Unlike older DIN or Mini-Din jacks, you do not have to turn off the PC's power to connect the keyboard. To install a USB keyboard, you just plug it in to an empty USB port. Most of the newer computers only have USB ports. PS/2 ports have become very rare on new computers. Keyboards historically have not connected to serial or IEEE1394 ports.
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A, D. The essential difference between a laser and an LED printer is in the imaging device. The laser printer uses a laser to transfer the image to the drum, whereas an LED printer uses an LED array to perform the same task. Otherwise, these technologies are practically identical.
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B, C. Interface types used by printers and scanners include USB and parallel. USB 2.0 is used by most inkjet, dye-sublimation, thermal, and laser printers, either when connected directly to a PC or connected to a network via a print server. The parallel interface works for older inkjet and laser printers.
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A, B, and C. The three main types of display devices in use today are LCD monitors (the most common), CRT monitors, and data projectors.
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A, B, and C. VGA, DMI, and HDMI are the three main types of connectors you will be dealing with. You can also use S-Video for a connection.
Case Study 1 Solution
- An example of a typical PC would be one with a keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, and speakers. Details follow:
- Keyboard: Logitech Wave Keyboard
- Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical Mouse
- Monitor: Samsung P2450H 24" Widescreen LCD monitor. HDMI port, maximum resolution = 1920 x 1080.
- Printer: HP Officejet Pro 8000. 32MB RAM, 384MHz CPU speed, 15 pages per minute (PPM), USB 2.0 connectivity.
- Speakers: Logitech Z-2300 THX-Certified 2.1 speaker system and subwoofer. 200 watts.
Case Study 2 Solution
- Refer to Figure 3-1 in the beginning of the chapter. This displays a typical computer with an ATX form factor. It details most of the common ports you would find on a computer. Most ports are color-coded. For example, the 5.1 sound ports use the following color scheme:
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- Light blue—Line input. Sometimes this seconds as a microphone input.
- Pink—Microphone input.
- Lime green—Main output for stereo speakers or headphones. Can also act as a line out.
- Black—Output for surround sound speakers (rear speakers).
- Gray/Brown—Output for additional two speakers in a 7.1 system (middle surround speakers).
- Orange—Output for center speaker and subwoofer.
These colors are derived from the PC 99 System Design Guide. See the following link to download the entire guide: www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/pcguides.mspx