hardware recommendations

1. HARDWARE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Module 1.3
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2. HARDWARE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Module 1.3
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3. CONTENT
 Buying a computer
 Buying a computer – system unit
 Buying a computer – peripherals or devices that
connect to the computer
 The value of ICT
 Efficiency, productivity and accuracy
 Accessibility
 New technology
 Test and improve your knowledge
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4. BUYING A COMPUTER
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5. SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
WHEN BUYING COMPUTERS:
 Need to be mobile?
 Hardware specifications of the software you want to
use
 Current standard specifications for an entry-level
and a more advanced computer in the category you
are considering
 A legal operating system provided?
Always buy the best product that your budget will
allow -
RAM installed, the size of storage and type of
processor.
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6. BUYING A COMPUTER – SYSTEM UNIT
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CPU or
processor
Responsible for running programs
and processing data
Multiple cores (e.g. quad-core) – like having more than one
processor on the chip
‘Speed’ – measured in Gigahertz (GHz)
Brand name (AMD or Intel) and model (such as Intel i7) can also
be used to identify the processor in an advert
Standard entry-level processor should be sufficient for personal
users, SOHO users and mobile users
Power users – the best CPU they can afford

7. BUYING A COMPUTER – SYSTEM UNIT
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Memory
(RAM)
Temporary storage area for data
and programs that are being
processed
If you use more than 4 GB of RAM, you will need to make sure
that you are using a 64-bit version of an operating system,
otherwise you won’t be able to access the entire amount of
RAM you have.
RAM can also be identified by terms such as DIMMS, DDR3 or
DDR-4 RAM.
For any user the more memory that you have installed, the
better.
Power users working with programs such as those used for
video editing will definitely require more memory.

8. BUYING A COMPUTER – SYSTEM UNIT
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Hard Disk
Drive
(HDD)
The main, permanent storage area
for all your data and software.
Besides the capacity, hard drives can be identified in adverts by
terms such as SATA and the speed at it which rotates, measured
in RPM.
A special computer, such a file server in a network, will have a
number of large hard drives, because it has to store all the
users’ files.
Solid State Drives (SSDs) use technology that is similar to flash
memory.
Most users will almost never fill the default hard drive size PC.
Power users may need to install a series of hard drives that act
as one unit, which is sometimes referred to as RAID technology.

9. BUYING A COMPUTER – SYSTEM UNIT
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DVD Drive An optical drive that can play, read
and write CDs and DVDs
DVD drives – less important than they were in the past.
Flash drives, external hard drives and even the Internet are used
to transfer and back up information.
Often listed as a multi-drives – they read and write (or burn)
DVDs and CDs.

10. BUYING A COMPUTER – SYSTEM UNIT
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Port Used to connect external devices
to the computer
Most devices can connect to a USB port.
Most computers will have a network port to connect to a cabled
network.
Modern computers might also have a FireWire or Thunderbolt
port for high speed data and video connections.
While WiFi is not technically a port, many computers now have
built-in support for WiFi.

11. BUYING A COMPUTER – PERIPHERALS OR
DEVICES THAT CONNECT TO THE
COMPUTER
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Mouse
Keyboar
d
The most commonly used types
of input devices
Ergonomically designed keyboards and mice, reduce the
impact of RSI.
Wireless or cabled equipment.
Mobile users with portable computer – touch pad instead of
a mouse.
A power user will probably have expensive technology
related to their particular field of interest.

12. BUYING A COMPUTER – PERIPHERALS OR
DEVICES THAT CONNECT TO THE
COMPUTER
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Monitor/
screen
The most common output
device for soft copy output
The popularity of tablets and smartphones has led to a lot
more applications (even Windows 8) which are designed to
work well with touch screens.
For most users an entry-level monitor will do just fine.
Power users such as gamers, video editors, photographers
and architects often need larger displays, or they might even
connect multiple monitors.

13. BUYING A COMPUTER – PERIPHERALS OR
DEVICES THAT CONNECT TO THE
COMPUTER
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Printer
Used to produce hard copy
output – laser, ink-jet and dot-
matrix printers
Type of printer – factors such as running costs, speed, the
print quality (dpi) and wireless connection
A SOHO or even a personal user – consider a multi-function
printer
Mobile user may want a mobile printer that works with
batteries

14. BUYING A COMPUTER – PERIPHERALS OR
DEVICES THAT CONNECT TO THE
COMPUTER
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External
(portable)
storage
Storage devices that connect to
the computer
For most personal users a flash disk is the quickest and
simplest way to transfer data and even make some measure
of backup.
All users can use external hard drives as storage for music
and videos and to back up.
All users find cloud storage useful.
SOHO and power users usually have a need for a large
external storage device.

15. BUYING A COMPUTER – PERIPHERALS OR
DEVICES THAT CONNECT TO THE
COMPUTER
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Scanner
Image scanners: capture an
image of whatever is placed in
the scanner Barcode scanners:
read barcodes
Personal users will seldom need a scanner –
they can just as easily photograph the image as scan it.
SOHO or power user who needs to scan documents and
convert them into editable text needs a good quality scanner
and an OCR program.
SOHO or power user who runs a business that deals with
images or photos – probably a good idea to get a good
quality scanner.

16. BUYING A COMPUTER – PERIPHERALS OR
DEVICES THAT CONNECT TO THE
COMPUTER
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Disabled user
Visually impaired / Blind
• Braille keyboard and
Braille ‘display’
• Magnification devices
• Large-key keyboards
• Braille printers
Hearing impaired / Deaf
• Vibration devices
Motor control (paralysed /
poor motor control /
arthritic / etc.)
• Eye tracking devices
• Head movement devices
• Large key (outsized)
keyboards
• Large trackballs
• Joysticks
• Foot pedal control
devices
• Sip and puff devices

17. THE VALUE OF ICT
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18. EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY AND
ACCURACY
 Efficiency: Getting things done with less
cost and effort.
 Productivity: What you get done in a
specific amount of time for a specific
cost (we are focused on increasing
productivity, which means getting more
stuff done in the same amount of time
and for the same cost).
 Accuracy: Ensuring that there are no
errors in input or output.
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19. EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY AND
ACCURACY – CHOICE OF
HARDWARE
Typing in text or data the whole day (as done by a
typist, writer or data capturer)
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Good quality ergonomic keyboard
Video editing
Largest, fastest possible HDD
Min 8 GB RAM, if possible more
TWO monitors
Converting existing documents to digital format
Automatic sheet feeding scanner

20. EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY AND
ACCURACY – CHOICE OF
HARDWARE
Competitive gaming
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Gaming mouse
Digital artist
Pressure sensitive drawing tablet
Selling products at a till and stocktaking
Barcode scanner

21. ACCESSIBILITY
 ICT makes knowledge and resources accessible to all
kinds of people all over the world.
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Remote surgery
Data/information access using
the Internet
Distance education
Cellphone banking such as M-Pesa
Making computers more
accessible for disabled users

22. NEW TECHNOLOGY
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23. WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND ABOUT NEW
TECHNOLOGY IS THE FOLLOWING:
 It will be smaller, cheaper, faster and more powerful
than what we have today.
 It will use more and more sensors.
 It will be designed to be mobile.
 The battery life should be longer than today.
 It will be designed to be constantly connected and
communicating.
 It will combine new technologies to allow easier and
more effective input and output.
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24. TEST AND IMPROVE YOUR
KNOWLEDGE
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25. WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVITY
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