This document discusses computer hardware and the process of evaluating hardware. It defines hardware as the physical devices that make up a computer system, including internal components like the motherboard, hard drive, and RAM, as well as external components like monitors, keyboards, and printers. It then lists six main hardware components: the CPU, primary storage, secondary storage, input devices, output devices, and communication devices. Finally, it discusses important factors to consider when evaluating hardware, such as modularity, expandability, ergonomics, software availability, cost, performance, compatibility, and vendor.

1. HARDWARE
PLANNING AND
EVALUATION

2. POWERPOINT OUTLINE

3. HARDWARE
CONSISTS OF THE PHYSICAL
DEVICES ASSOCIATED
WITH A COMPUTER SYSTEM.

4. COMPUTER HARDWARE- REFERS TO THE
PHYSICAL PARTS OF A COMPUTER AND
RELATED DEVICES. INTERNAL HARDWARE
DEVICES INCLUDE MOTHERBOARDS, HARD
DRIVES, AND RAM. EXTERNAL HARDWARE
DEVICES INCLUDE MONITORS, KEYBOARDS,
MICE, PRINTERS, AND SCANNERS.

5. SIX HARDWARE COMPONENTS
1 . C P U - C E N T R A L P R O C E S S I N G U N I T - T H E A C T U A L
H A R D W A R E
T H A T I N T E R P R E T S A N D E X E C U T E S
T H E P R O G R A M ( S O F T W A R E ) I N S T R U C T I O N S
A N D C O O R D I N A T E S
H O W A L L T H E O T H E R H A R D W A R E
D E V I C E S W O R K T O G E T H E R .

6. 2. PRIMARY STORAGE IS THE
C O M P U T E R ’ S M A I N M E M O RY, W H I C H
C O N S I S T S O F T H E R A N D O M
A C C E S S M E M O RY ( R A M ) , C A C H E
M E M O RY, A N D T H E
R E A D - O N LY M E M O RY ( R O M ) T H AT I S
D I R E C T LY A C C E S S I B L E TO T H E C P U .

7. 3 . S E C O N D A RY S TO R A G E C O N S I S T S O F
E Q U I P M E N T D E S I G N E D
TO S TO R E L A R G E V O L U M E S O F D ATA
F O R L O N G - T E R M S TO R A G E . S E C O N D A RY
S TO R A G E D E V I C E S A R E N O N V O L AT I L E
A N D D O N O T L O S E T H E I R C O N T E N T S
W H E N T H E C O M P U T E R I S T U R N E D O F F.
S O M E S TO R A G E D E V I C E S , S U C H A S A

8. 4 . I N P U T D E V I C E I S E Q U I P M E N T
U S E D T O C A P T U R E I N F O R M A T I O N
A N D C O M M A N D S .

10. 6 . C O M M U N I C A T I O N D E V I C E I S E Q U I P M E N T U S E D
T O S E N D I N F O R M A T I O N A N D R E C E I V E I T
F R O M O N E L O C A T I O N T O A N O T H E R .

11. MAJOR HARDWARE
EVALUATION FACTORS

12. HARDWARE
DECISION
Modularity/
expandabity
Ergonomics
Software
availability
Vendor
Cost
Performance
Compatibility

13. EVALUATING HARDWARE CAN BE A
COMPLICATED PROCESS. FOR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS WITH LARGE MAINFRAME
COMPUTER SYSTEMS, ACQUIRING
HARDWARE MEANS INVESTMENT OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLAR FOR MANY YEARS IN
A PARTICULAR VENDOR. IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR, ADMINISTRATORS WILL LIKELY
USE COMPETITIVE BIDING PROCEDURES
THAT MAY REQUIRE IDENTIFYING A
FORMALIZED EVALUATION PROCEDURE TO
PROSPECTIVE BIDDING. BACK

14. ARE VERY IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR LONG-
RANGE PLANNING. MODULARITY, REFERS TO
THE INTERCHANGEABILITY OF COMPONENTS
OR PARTS OF A HARDWARE SYSTEM.
EXPANDABILITY, IS THE ABILITY OF COMPUTER
HARDWARE TO GROW OR EXPAND AS A NEW
APPLICATIONS ARE DEVELOPED OR AS OLD
APPLICATIONS BECOME LARGER. TECHNOLOGY
IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. TO EXPAND NEWLY
PURCHASED EQUIPMENT SHOULD NOT
REFLECT OLD TECHNOLOGY BEING PHASED
OUT. Back