There are two general meanings, similar to and accepted for the term personal computer (PC):

1) PC is brief for PC or IBM PC - PC was the first personal computer introduced by IBM, and more and more the term PC came to refer to IBM or IBM compatible personal computers, except for other types of personal computers. , such as Macintosh.

2) A personal computer (PC) - It can also refer to a small and very inexpensive computer designed for a single user. In price, personal computers range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. They are all based on the microprocessor technology that allows manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip.

In recent years, the term PC has become increasingly difficult to define. In general, however, it applies to any personal computer based on an Intel microprocessor or an Intel-compatible microprocessor. For almost every other component, including the operating system, there are several options, all of which fall into the PC category.

Personal computer in the late 1970s

PCs first appeared in the late 1970s. One of the earliest and most popular PCs was the Apple II, introduced by Apple Computer in 1977. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, new competitive operating systems and models seemed to be emerging every day. Then, in 1981, IBM went into the fray with its first personal computer, known as the IBM PC. IBM PC was soon a personal choice, and most other PC manufacturers fell in love with the other side.

Since the first personal computer manufactured by IBM was called a personal computer, the term personal computer has increasingly referred to IBM or IBM-compatible personal computers, except for other types of personal computers such as Macintosh, despite being of the few companies that survived. The IBM attack was Apple Computer, which is still a major player in the personal computer market today.

IBM clones

Other companies have adapted to IBM's dominance by making IBM clones, computers that were nearly identical to IBM's personal computers on the inside, but cost less. Because the IBM clones used the same microprocessors as IBM's personal computers, they were able to use the same software. Over the years, IBM has lost most of its influence in directing the evolution of PCs. Many of its innovations, such as the MCA expansion bus and the OS / 2 operating system, have not been adopted by the industry or the market.

Today's common PCs

Today, the world of personal computers is divided between Apple Macintosh and PC. The key characteristics of personal computers are that they are single-user systems and are based on microprocessors. However, although personal computers are designed as single-user systems, it is common to connect them to create a network. In terms of power, there is a great combination. Over time, the gap between personal computers and workplaces has narrowed. High-end Macintosh and PC models offer the same computing power and graphics capabilities as low-end workstations.

Types

Desktop computing

A desktop computer is a standalone personal computer (PC), compared to smaller forms of PC, such as a mobile laptop. Before the widespread deployment of PCs, a desktop capable computer was considered extremely small. Today, the phrase generally reflects a particular style of the computer case. Desktop computers come in a combination of styles ranging from large vertical tower cases to small form factor models that can be placed behind an LCD monitor. In this sense, the term "desk" specifically refers to a horizontally directed case, generally with the expectation that the display screen is placed on top to save space on top of the desk.

Nettop

Intel introduced a desktop subtype, called nettops, in February 2008 to account for low-cost desktops, a tight feature. Web books (see below) are a similar subtype of laptops (or notebooks).

Laptop

A laptop or just a laptop, also known as a laptop or sometimes a laptop, is a small personal computer designed for mobility. All the interface hardware necessary to operate the laptop, such as serial and parallel ports, graphics cards, sound channels, etc., are generally integrated into a single unit. Most laptops have batteries to run without an electrical device available. To save power, weight, and space, they typically share RAM with the video channel, slowing down their performance compared to a similar desktop device.

Modern mid-range HP notebook.

One of the main advantages of the laptop, due to the size and configuration of the parts, is that little can be done to update the entire computer from its original design. Some devices can be connected externally via ports (even via USB), but an internal upgrade is not recommended or in some cases impossible, making the PC more modular.

Netbook

Netbooks are small laptops with a "clamshell" design specifically designed for wireless communication and Internet access. They are usually much more volatile and more affordable than subnotebooks and have a smaller screen, between 7 "and 9", with a screen resolution between 800x600 and 1024x768. The operating systems and applications they contain are often specially modified so that they can be used comfortably with smaller screen size, and the operating system is often Linux-based, although some netbooks also use Windows XP.

Tablet

A tablet is a whiteboard-shaped laptop or notebook, first introduced by Pen Computing in the early 1990s with its PenGo tablet and popularized by Microsoft. Its hybrid touch screen or tablet / graphic display technology allows the user to operate the computer with a stylus or digital pen, or with the tip of a finger, rather than with a keyboard or mouse.

Ultra-mobile PC

Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) is a small form factor tablet PC specification. It was jointly developed by Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, and others. Today's UMPCs typically include Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition or Linux operating systems, and low-voltage Intel Pentium or VIA C7-M processors in the 1 GHz range.

PC home theater

Home Games PC (HTPC) is a personal computer that connects the performance of a personal computer with a video recorder. It is compatible with a television or computer screen similar to a television and is often used as a photo, music, video display, TV receiver, and video display. PC home games are also known as the system of a media company or server.