This document discusses different types of computing devices and their key differences. It begins by asking which type of device - desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone - is best depending on intended use and user interface. It then covers operating systems, apps, and how different devices work in similar ways by loading programs from storage into memory for use. Tablets are highlighted as having flash memory that allows apps to load instantly rather than needing to be loaded each time from permanent storage. Questions from the user are then invited.

1. Session 2
Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone
Which Should I Choose?
It Depends on…
•The User Interface
•The Operating System
•The Apps
and what you want it for!
1

2. Introduction
tell you “Click X to do Y“
teach you step-by-step how to send
an email/Skype your son/etc
advise you on the best computer
etc…
2
Why Not?
Because nobody can remember that stuff
It will be different next week
Everyone’s needs are different
“I can’t be bothered with all this medical
stuff, show me how to do brain surgery”
These Sessions Will Not:

3. Introduction
Show you HOW to be comfortable with
new technologies
Show you WHY the new ways may be
advantageous for you
Help overcome the fear
Accept change
By
Explaining the jargon
Introducing the concepts
Getting you to think “Oh, this is like…”
Showing you can’t “break” a computer…
usually
These Sessions Will Try to:
3

4. But Why Do They All Seem
Different?
The User Interface
The Apps
The Operating System
The Jargon
4

5. What Is The User Interface?
Its a special set of Apps that
handle:
The display
The keyboard
The mouse
The icons
5

6. What is an Icon?
It is a SHORTCUT to an App
Can be placed on the
screen where you like
Is NOT the App
Many/most Apps do not
have an Icon
If clicked will start an App
OR redisplay an App
6

7. What is a User Interface
(UI) - Microsoft
7
DOS Windows 3 MS Bob
Windows XP Windows 7 Windows 8

8. What is a User Interface
(UI) - Apple
8
Mac Term Macintosh Mac OS 9
Mac OS X 10-10 “Yosemite”

9. What is an Operating
System?
9
A Collection of Apps

10. What is an Operating
System?
10
A Traffic Cop

11. What is an Operating
System?
11
A Librarian

12. What is an Operating
System?
12
A Cook

13. The Operating Systems
Command line
DOS
Disk Operating System
Unix -
Uni-Information and Computer System
Linux
Linus Torvald’s Unix
Graphics and Pointer
Windows
Macintosh
X-server
IOS - iPhone and iPad
Android - most other phones and tablets
13

14. The Operating Systems
Versions!
Command line
DOS
Disk Operating System
Unix -
Uni-Information and Computer System
Linux
Linus Torvald’s Unix
Graphics and Pointer
Windows (10)
Macintosh (OS X Yosemite)
X-server (1.6)
IOS - iPhone and iPad (8.1.3)
Android - (Lollypop) most other phones
and tablets
14

15. BUT they all work the
same way!
A recipe has a name
A recipe is a page in a book with method and
ingredients
Initially recipes are in cookery books on a shelf in a
library
The book with the recipe is taken from the shelf
and put on the counter
The cook opens the book at the right page, reads
the recipe from the book and follows it
The cook writes any changes to recipe into the
book
The book with the modified recipe is put back on
the shelf in the library
15

16. BUT they all work the
same way!
A computer file has a name
An app is a computer file in a folder with instructions
and data
Initially files are in folders on a hard disk
The file with the app is taken from the folder on the
hard disk a loaded into RAM
The computer opens the app at its start, reads the
instructions from the app and follows them
The computer writes any changes to app or its data
into the file
The file with the modified data is put back on hard
disk
16

17. Computer Types
PCs
Laptops
Desktops
Servers
Tablets
iPhone
iPad
Hudl etc. to numerous to
mention
17

18. PCs ( desktops, laptops,
notebooks)
50 year-old concept
RAM is fast and expensive and ephemeral
No power - no memory
Storage is slow and cheap(er) and persistent
No power - still remembers
To run an App requires App and data to be loaded
from Storage into RAM
18

19. Why Does My Computer
Take So Long To Start?
It’s like packing a bag for a trip
If you know what you need and
you know where everything is then
packing is easy
If you DON’T know what you’ll
need and you DON’T know where
stuff is its a nightmare
19

20. What Will I Need?
Toilet kit
Shoes
Clothes
Nightware
Medications
20

21. Startup ( or BOOTING)
Press the Power On
button
The computer goes to
special App called the
BIOS
This reads the apps
you need off of the
hard drive and puts
them into RAM
21

22. What Will My Computer Need?
The manufacturer decides
Apps to talk to the
keyboard
Apps to talk to the
display
Apps to talk to the
mouse
Apps specific to your
PC
Apps you usually
use????
22

23. Why Is My Computer So
SLOW?
UNTIDY HARD DRIVE
Hording
I’d better keep it. I might
need it.
Fragmentation!
Hard Drive
RAM
23
Too Much to Do!

24. Just have the apps you
need to do what you want
All computers come with irrelevant apps
already installed
App companies PAY the computer
manufacturer to install them at the
factory
Its a form of advertising
Most are “computer required
application programs” - CRAP
So remove them - or at least leave
them on your hard drive storage.
24

25. Apps on all Windows CDs
25
Keyboard Display Mouse Microsoft Apps
Operating
System

26. Apps on a typical Windows
PC hard drive out of the box
26
Keyboard Display Mouse Microsoft Apps
Word Excel
McAfee
security
Must Have
App 1!
Must Have
App 2!
Must Have
App 3!
Must Have
App 4!
Must Have
App ..!
Must Have
App n!
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps

27. Apps you might also add
27
Keyboard Display Mouse
Microsoft
Apps
Word Excel Photoshop
Firefox Chrome iPlayer Camera
Music Video
Other so-called Must Have! apps
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Your Apps

28. Initial Apps In Memory
28
Keyboard Display Mouse
McAfee
Security
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Your Apps

29. Apps In Memory after a
while
29
Keyboard Display Mouse
Word iPlayer Chrome
Photoshop
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Your Apps

30. Apps on the Hard Drive
you use
30
Keyboard Display
Microsoft
Apps
Excel Photoshop
Firefox Chrome iPlayer Camera
Music Video
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Your Apps

31. 31

32. Defragmentation
Imagine someone has
emptied a filing cabinet all
over the floor
All the files are there…
…but spread all over the
floor
Defragmentation is sorting
them all out and putting them
in order.
X

33. Apps on the Hard Drive
X
Keyboard Display ITVPlayer 1
Microsoft
Apps
ITVPlayer 2 Excel Photoshop
Firefox Chrome iPlayer Camera
Music Video ITVPlayer 3
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Your Apps
Fragmented App

34. Defragment
Clean up
your hard
drive with
a utility
app.
X

35. Tablets…
from Smartphones to iPads
What’s the big deal?
FLASH memory
Flash memory remembers after power is removed.
Introduced by Toshiba in 1984. As more was used the costs dropped
dramatically until it was cheap enough to replace conventional RAM
Used in USB thumb drives, SD Cards, etc.
So INSTANT APPs - no need to load from storage device each time
you want an App
The computer not only remembers the status of an App but ALL of
the Apps you were using when you switched off.
32

36. Tablets
from Smartphones to iPads
What’s the big deal?
Touch Screen
On screen keyboard
Gestures
App Store
Controls what Apps you can download
No viruses or malware
33

37. Apps in the Tablet
34
Keyboard Display
Microsoft
Apps
Excel Photoshop
Firefox Chrome iPlayer Camera
Music Video
Your Data
Operating
System
Manufacturers
Apps
Your Apps

38. 35

39. Questions?
About today
Still unanswered
Anything else
36

40. Follow the course on the
web at wingvillagehall.club
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