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Building the Right Computer System

Created by: Burke Brown

April 28, 2004

Stated Standard:

Nebraska Student Competencies in Technology: http://www.nde.state.ne.us/TECHCEN

 

 

Objectives:

    1.     Develop appropriate vocabulary needed to understand modern advertisements

2.     Identify key components needed to build a computer system
3.     Compare and contrast components present in different levels of computers
4.     Evaluate gathered criteria to develop a purchase statement for building a PC

Directions:

A.  Click on the following link and choose the video, "Getting Started".  Print this notetaking.pdf and record appropriate highlights of the video. http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/howto/story/0,24330,3000988,00.html

Please concentrate on MAJOR POINTS and at least three vocabulary words in which you aren't familiar.

Please print the following Vocab.pdf and fill the sheet out completely.  You can use one or more of these dictionary web sites in your efforts.

http://www.pcwebopedia.com/

http://dictionary.reference.com/

http://www.netlingo.com

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B. Visit one of the following sites and "Build" two computers from the same site.  The first computer is to be "Bare Bones".  The second computer is to be "Maxed". You can include all of the bells and whistles.  Print and complete the venn2circles.pdf document fully.  Please look at ten or more characteristics that you notice in your "Builds".  Use the left circle for the cheap PC and the right for the maxed PC.  Components that are in common should be placed in the joined portion.

DELL:     http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

IBM:     http://www.ibm.com/products/us/finder/finder?sid=1&N=200001&Ne=200000&lst=off&trac=1T10FN02A&ca=dtfinder&me=W&met=inli&re=home

HP:     http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/home/store_access.jsp?template_type=landing&landing=desktops&AOID=81

Print and complete the Compare.pdf page.  Please take at lease five of the observations from "B" and break them down into full comparisons.  Make sure you identify the type of user that would be satisfied with each.

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C.  Visit one of the following sites to view "Weekly Advertisements" online.  Choose a computer system you'd purchase.  Complete a ONE (1) page essay describing the choice and the reasons behind your decision.  Click HERE to see a chart that will help you decide if your essay is complete.

BestBuy.com (Check the UPPER-Left corner)

Circuit City.com (Check the UPPER-Left corner)

Consider using the following questions as guides in your journey.  You may consider addressing many of thes in your essay.

Consider These When

BUYING A COMPUTER:
Before buying:
____ Decide:
     - Who will use it?
     - What will it be used for?
     - Do you need a portable (e.g. notebook) computer?
     - Macintosh or PC (IBM-compatible)? - Macintosh is easier to use, much more widely used in schools - PC's have more software available
     - What type(s) of software do you need and want to use on it?
     - Do you want to get on the Internet?
     - Do you need a CD-ROM drive?
     - Do you need color?
     - Do you need laser-quality printouts?
     - Do you need color printouts?
     - How fast does the computer need to be (megahertz)?
     - How many programs and files will you need to store on the hard drive (megabytes, gigabytes)?
     - How much memory (or RAM) is required for the program(s) you want to run?