The Basic Components of Computers
What is a Computer?
Many people see a computer as a sort of magical grey
box that you get from Compaq or IBM which you use
to run programs (and the occasional game when your
boss or parents aren’t watching). However, the formal
definition of a computer is somewhat broader. Simply put,
a computer is an electronic device that can accept data
and instructions, process them or store them for later
retrieval, and sometimes generate output (usually based
on the processing) (see Figure 1.1). As you would expect,
this definition includes more than the PC (personal
computer) that you have at home or at school. For
example, most new models of cars come with a computer
to manage their fuel injection systems.
