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Chapter 16. Cool Tech: Laptops and Computers

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Laptops and computers have quickly become part of our everyday lives.

Iā€™m sure you have asked the question, whatā€™s the difference between a laptop and computer?

They both do the same job. You can type papers, search the internet, and watch videos of all your friends. And, that is true! The differences are mainly physical. A laptop is generally lighter, easier to move, and uses less power. Both laptops and computers can have LED or LCD screens (sounds familiar!). Laptops are typically more convenient and practical for people to carry around for work or school. But computers are much heavier, and it would be silly to carry one around (imagine the sight of that!). In fact, itā€™s called a ā€œlaptopā€ because people can easily open it and put it on their laps. Computers and laptops are made for different purposes but have many of the same parts.

Laptop and computers, mostly, share similar parts. The following are the main, basic parts of a simple computer or laptop:

  • Input devices allow people to put data into the laptop or computer. You use many of these devices, such as the mouse, keyboard, microphone.
  • Output devices shows the result of data processing such as the display, speakers, and printer.
  • A motherboard connects all the important parts of a computer together. It is the most central and important part of the computer.
  • CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It is where the computerā€™s wires and circuits do all the work. Some people call the CPU the ā€œbrainā€ of the computer. It does the work for a computer to processes information.
The Mother of All: The motherboard connects all the components of the computer together.
  • RAM, or Random-Access Memory, stores data so it can be read extremely quickly. RAM allows programs to run in any order so you can chat, search, and watch a video at the same time.

What’s the relationship between RAM and CPU? When your computer has a lot of information to go through, then that information gets sent to RAM. The CPU can quickly access the information in the RAM. RAM stores data quickly, while a CPU processes it.

Although laptops and computers look very different, they actually have the same pieces. These pieces are designed a little differently so they can serve their purpose better. But, they have the same parts!