Personal computer

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This article is about personal computers in general. For computers generally referred to as "PCs", see IBM PC compatible. For hardware components dealing with personal computers, see Personal computer hardware.

Personal computer

An illustration of a modern personal desktop computer

A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator. In contrast, the batch processing or time-sharing models allowed large expensive mainframe systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time. Large data processing systems require a full-time staff to operate efficiently. Software applications for personal computers include, but are not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, Web browsersand e-mail clients, digital media playback, games, and myriad personal productivity and special-purpose software applications. Modern personal computers often have connections to the Internet, allowing access to the World Wide Web and a wide range of other resources. Personal computers may be connected to a local area network (LAN), either by a cable or a wireless connection. A personal computer may be a desktop computer or a laptop, tablet PC, or a handheld PC. While early PC owners usually had to write their own programs to do anything useful with the machines, today's users have access to a wide range of commercial software and free software, which is provided in ready-to-run or ready-to-compile form. Since the 1980s,Microsoft and Intel have dominated much of the personal computer market, first with MS-DOS and then with the Wintel platform. Alternatives

to Windows include Apple's Mac OS X and the open-source Linux OSes. AMD is the major alternative to Intel. Applications and games for PCs are typically developed and distributed independently from the hardware or OS manufacturers, whereas software for many mobile phones and other portable systems is approved and distributed through a centralized online store.[1][2] In July & August 2011, marketing businesses and journalists started to talk about the 'Post-PC Era', an era where the desktop form factor was being replace with more portable computing such as netbooks, and Tablet PC's.[3]
Contents
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1 History

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1.1 Market and sales 1.2 Average selling price

2 Types

2.1 Stationary

2.1.1 Workstation 2.1.2 Desktop computer

2.1.2.1 Gaming Computer 2.1.2.2 Single unit

2.1.3 Nettop 2.1.4 Home theater PC

2.2 Mobile

2.2.1 Laptop

3 Hardware

2.2.1.1 Desktop replacement

2.2.2 Netbook 2.2.3 Tablet PC 2.2.4 Ultra-mobile PC 2.2.5 Pocket PC

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3.1 Computer case 3.2 Power supply unit 3.3 Processor 3.4 Motherboard

o o o o o o o

3.5 Main memory 3.6 Hard disk 3.7 Video card 3.8 Visual display unit 3.9 Keyboard 3.10 Mouse 3.11 Other components

4 Software

4.1 Operating system

4.1.1 Microsoft Windows 4.1.2 Mac OS X 4.1.3 AmigaOS 4.1.4 Linux

4.2 Applications

5 Disposal of 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links