Computer systems

A mainframe is the most powerful type of computer. It can process and store a large amount of data. It supports multiple users at the same time and can support more simultaneous processes than a PC. The central system is a large server connected to hundreds of terminals over a network. Mainframes are used for large-scale computing purposes in banks, big companies, and universities.

A desktop PC has its own processing unit, monitor, and keyboard. It is used as a personal computer in the home and as a workstation for group work. Typical examples are the IBM PC and the Apple Macintosh.

A laptop (also called a notebook PC) is a lightweight computer that can be transported easily. It can work as fast as a desktop PC, with similar processors, memory capacity, and disk drivers, but it is portable and has a smaller screen. Instead of mouse, they have a touchpad built into a keyboard a sensitive pad that you can touch to move the pointer on the screen.

They offer a lot of connectivity options: USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for connecting peripherals, slots for memory cards, etc.

A tablet PC looks like a book with a screen on which you can write using special digital pen. It can be folded and rotated 180 degrees. A user can type at the detached keyboard or use voice recognition.

Vocabulary:

access ['xksqs] v.– получать (доступ)

connectivity ["kPnek'tIvqtI] n.– возможность соединения или подключения

desktop['desk"tPp] n. – настольный компьютер

detached [dI'txCt] a. – отдельный

disk drive [dIsk'draIv] – дисковод

keyboard ['k°"b²d] n. – клавиатура

laptop ['lxp"tPp] n.- ноутбук

mainframe ['meIn"freIm] n. – сервер, мощный компьютер

memory capacity ['memqrI kq'pxsqtI] – объем памяти

peripheral [pq'rIfqrql] n.– внешнее устройство

purpose ['p´pqs] n. – цель