Management Information Systems,

Chapter 3:
Business Hardware
 Objectives
• List major hardware components of computers
and explain their functions
• Classify computers into major categories, and
identify their strengths and weaknesses
• Identify and evaluate key criteria for deciding
what computers or related devices to purchase
• Discuss the possible health hazards of computer
use

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 2

 Computer Hardware Components

• Hardware: physical components of computers

and related electronic devices
• Consider software before hardware
• Computer must handle four operations:
– Accept data
– Store data and instructions
– Process data
– Output data and/or information

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 3

 Computer Hardware Components
(continued)
• In general, every computer has the following
components:
– Input devices
– Central processing unit (CPU)
– Internal memory
– Storage
– Output devices
• Input devices: receive signals from outside of
computer and transfer them into the
computer
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 4
 Computer Hardware Components
(continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 5

 Computer Hardware Components
(continued)
• Central processing unit (CPU)
– Accepts instructions and data
– Decodes and executes instructions
– Stores results (output) in memory
• Internal (or primary) memory: stores data and
instructions before and after CPU processes
them
– RAM: random access memory
– ROM: read-only memory

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 6

 Computer Hardware Components
(continued)
• Motherboard: circuit board containing the CPU
and primary memory
• Storage: magnetic disks, magnetic tapes,
optical discs, DVDs, and flash memory
– Allows permanent storage
• Output devices: deliver information from the
computer to the user
– Monitors and printers are the most common
output devices
– Audio devices also deliver output
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 7
 Computer Hardware Components
(continued)
• Bit: Binary digit
– 0 or 1
• Byte: a standard group of eight bits
– Most characters can be represented by a single
byte
• Computer memory and storage capacity are
measured in megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB),
and terabytes (TB)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 8

 Computer Hardware Components
(continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 9

 Classification of Computers
• Computers vary in size and power
• Classified by power
– Power is determined mainly by processing speed
and memory size
• More powerful computers are more expensive

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 10

 Supercomputers

• Supercomputers: most powerful computers at

any given time
– Largest in physical size and most expensive
– Designed for complex arithmetic calculations
– Generally impractical for business purposes
• Parallel processing: multiple processors
running simultaneously
– Also known as multiprocessing

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 11

 Mainframe Computers
• Mainframe computers: store large amounts of
data and business transactions
– Less expensive and less powerful than
supercomputers
– Often used by banks, universities, and insurance
companies as a central computer
– 40-50% of world’s business data resides on
mainframes
– Use multiple processors

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 12

 Midrange Computers

• Midrange computers: often act as servers

within organizations or through the
Internet
– Smaller and less powerful than mainframes
– Serve hundreds of users that connect from
personal computers
– Use multiple processors

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 13

 Microcomputers

• Microcomputers: personal computers,

notebook computers, and handhelds
• Workstation: more powerful microcomputer
used for CAD, CAM, and scientific applications
• Power of microcomputers doubles about every
two years

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 14

 Computers on the Go: Notebook,
Handheld, and Tablet Computers
• Notebook (or laptop) computer: compact
personal computer powered by rechargeable
battery
– New models include wireless technology
• Personal digital assistant (PDA): handheld
computer
– Stylus: pen-like device used to enter data through
a touch screen
• Tablet computer: PC in the form of a thick
writing tablet that recognizes handwriting
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 15
 Converging Technologies

• Technology convergence: building several

technologies into a single piece of
hardware
– Prominent in handheld units
• Commonly merged technologies include:
– Cell phones
– Television
– Digital cameras
– Digital sound recorder
– MP3 players
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 16
 A Peek Inside the Computer

• Professionals must know about computer

components to understand their power and
capabilities
– They use this knowledge to make good decisions
in purchasing or recommending a computer

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 17

 The Central Processing Unit

• CPU has two units to store and process data

– Control unit and arithmetic logic unit
• CPU is a silicon chip with multiple circuits
• Also known as microprocessor
• Multicore processors: processors that combine
two or more CPUs or “cores” on a single chip
• Multithreading: processing more than one
program, or several parts of a program, at the
same time
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 18
 The Central Processing Unit
(continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 19

 The Central Processing Unit
(continued)
• Microprocessors are embedded with transistors
• Transistor: a semiconductor that can represent
binary code’s two states
• CPU machine cycle:
– Time period during which the CPU fetches,
decodes, and executes each instruction
• CPU clock: special circuitry on the processor
that synchronizes all tasks
• Clock rate: number of pulses per second
– A machine cycle takes several clock pulses

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 20

 The Central Processing Unit
(continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 21

 The Central Processing Unit
(continued)
• Data word: maximum number of bits that the
control unit can fetch from primary memory in a
single machine cycle
– Current microcomputers have words of 32 or 64
bits
• Arithmetic logic unit: the part of the CPU that
performs arithmetic and logical operations

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 22

 Computer Power
• Computer power depends on processing speed
and memory capacity
• Bus: electronic lines or traces used for
communication inside computer
• Throughput: number of bits per second that the
bus can accommodate
• MIPS: millions of instructions per second, a
common measure of computer speed

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 23

 Input Devices
• Computers must receive input to produce output
• Input devices include machines and devices
used to enter instructions and data into
computer
• Common input devices include:
– Keyboard
– Trackball
– Microphone
– Scanner

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 24

 Keyboard
• Keyboard: an input device that contains keys
that users press to enter data
– Includes letters, numbers, punctuation, and
function keys
– QWERTY: standard keyboard layout
– Dvorak: keyboard layout that allows
faster typing
• Ergonomics: the study of the comfort and
safety of humans in the workplace
• Ergonomic keyboard: fits the natural position
of forearms and prevents injury
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 25
 Mouse, Trackball, and Trackpad
• Mouse: input device that controls an on-screen
pointer to facilitate point-and-click approach
– Has one to five buttons for clicking, locking,
dragging
• Trackball: similar to mouse, but user
manipulates a ball within the device to indicate
movement on the screen
• Trackpad: cursor movement is controlled by
moving a finger over a touch-sensitive pad
• Mice and similar devices can be wireless
units
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 26
 Touch Screen

• Touch screen: both an input and an output

device
– Often used for public applications, such as
kiosks
– Prevalent in handheld devices, GPS devices, and
mobile phones
– Allows the user to navigate and select by
touching the screen

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 27

 Source Data Input Devices

• Source data input devices: copy data directly

from sources such as bar codes, credit cards,
and checks
• Optical mark recognition devices detect
positions of marks or characters
• Optical character recognition (OCR) devices
try to interpret handwritten and printed text
• Magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR):
detects magnetic ink on checks

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 28

Source Data Input Devices (continued)

• Magnetic strips on credit cards store encoded

data
• Bar codes on products and packages store
encoded information

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 29

Source Data Input Devices (continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 30

 Imaging

• Imaging: converts documents into images

– Saves paper
– More efficient retrieval and filing
• Scanned document images can be:
– Indexed and linked to relevant records in
databases
– Easily retrieved
• Original paper documents can be destroyed
after scanning

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 31

 Speech Recognition

• Speech (or voice) recognition: process of

translating human speech into computer-
readable data and instructions
• Receives input from microphone and processes
it with software
• Speech-operated computers may increase noise
level in offices and add distraction

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 32

 Output Devices

• Output device: a device that delivers results of

computer processing
• Popular output devices include:
– Monitors
– Printers
– Speakers
• In the future, smell output is possible

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 33

 Monitors
• Pixel (picture element): small dots that make up
the images on a monitor
• Cathode-ray tube: inner side of screen has layer
of phosphoric dots that make up the pixels
– Electron gun receives instructions from computer
and sweeps the pixels
• Flat-panel monitor: advantages include lower
power use, sharper images, and slim profile
• Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor: uses a
liquid crystal filled screen
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 34
 Monitors (continued)
• Monitor price depends on:
– Size, measured as the diagonal length of the
screen
– Brightness
– Contrast ratio (the higher the better)
– Pixel pitch (closeness of the pixels)
• Resolution: a measure of picture
sharpness
– Number of pixels in the width and height of the
screen
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 35
 Printers
• Nonimpact printer: does not mechanically
impact the paper
– Laser printer is most common in business
– Others include ink-jet and electrothermal
printers
– Speed is measured in pages per minute
(ppm)
– Density measured in dots per inch (DPI)
• Impact printers: reproduce image by using
mechanical impact
– Dot-matrix printer: tiny pins strike ink ribbon
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 36
 Storage Media
• Data must be stored on nonvolatile medium
– Data is retained even when the storage device is
not connected to electrical power
• Storage devices differ in the technology used to
maintain data and physical structure
• Evaluate storage devices by comparing:
– Cost
– Capacity
– Access speed
– Access mode
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 37
 Modes of Access
• Sequential storage: data is organized one
record after another
– Must read through all records that are stored prior
to the desired record
• Direct access: records are organized by
physical address on the device
– A record can be accessed directly
(randomly)
• Flash drives: small storage devices that
connect via universal serial bus (USB)
• Direct access storage media is the only practical
way to organize and query databases
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 38
 Modes of Access (continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 39

 Magnetic Tapes

• Magnetic tapes: similar to tapes used in tape

recorders and VCRs, usually as cartridges
– Provide lowest cost (bytes per dollar)
– Can back up all data
– Takes a long time to copy from tape
– Tapes are unreliable after long periods of time or
usage

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 40

 Magnetic Disks

• Magnetic disk: most widely used storage

medium
– Includes hard disks and floppy disks
• Hard disk: stack of several rigid platters
installed in the same box that holds the CPU
– Stores up to one TB of data
– External hard disks connect to computer through
USB port

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 41

 Optical Discs

• Optical disc: recorded by treating the disc

surface to reflect light in different ways
• Two basic categories of optical disk:
– Compact discs (CDs)
– Digital video discs (DVDs)
• Compact discs: available as read-only,
recordable, and rewritable
• DVDs: store 4.7 GB per side
• Optical discs are slower than hard disks
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 42
 Optical Tape

• Optical tape: uses same technology as optical

discs to store and retrieve data
• Bits are organized sequentially, similar to
magnetic tape
• Mainly used in digital video camcorders

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 43

 Flash Memory

• Flash memory: rewritable memory chip that

holds content without power
– Consumes very little power
– Does not need a constant power supply
– Fast access times
– Relatively immune to shock or vibration
• Available as memory card and USB drive
• Solid state disk: storage media that does not
have latency time

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 44

 DAS, NAS, and SAN
• Direct access storage (DAS): disk or array of
disks or tapes directly connected to server
– Easy to deploy and manage
– Does not relieve any of server’s workload
• Network-attached storage (NAS): device
designed for networked storage
– Includes both the storage media and the software
to manage it
– Offloads processing from the server
– Highly scalable
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 45
 DAS, NAS, and SAN (continued)
• Storage area network (SAN): a network fully
devoted to storage and transfer of data
– Managed separately from the rest of the LAN
– May combine DAS and NAS devices
– Can transfer larger blocks of data at higher
speeds
– Expensive and complex to manage
• RAID: redundant array of independent
disks
– Used by DAS, NAS, and SAN
– Fault-tolerant: can continue even through disk
failures
Management due toSystems,
Information redundancy
Sixth Edition 46
Business Considerations in Evaluating
Storage Media

• When purchasing storage devices, managers

must consider:
– Purpose of data storage
– Amount of data to be stored
– Required speed of data storage and retrieval
– Unit space and portability of the device
– Cost
– Reliability and life expectancy
– Trade-offs
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 47
Business Considerations in Evaluating
Storage Media (continued)

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 48

 Considerations in Purchasing
Hardware
• Companies must consider the following when
selecting equipment to purchase:
– Power of the equipment (memory size, capacity,
speed)
– Expansion slots and ports (sockets used to
connect computer to external devices)
– Monitor type and resolution
– Ergonomics
– Compatibility with existing hardware, software,
and networks
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 49
 Considerations in Purchasing
Hardware (continued)
• Considerations (continued):
– Hardware footprint (physical size of equipment)
– Reliability of vendor
– Warranty policy and post-warranty support
– Power consumption and noise
– Cost
• Backward compatibility: the capability to work
with older hardware or software

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 50

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 51
 Scalability and Updating Hardware

• Scalability: resources can be expanded or

upgraded to provide increased power
• Not all hardware is scalable
• Leasing hardware is a valid option to avoid short
useful lifetime of hardware

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 52

 Summary
• Understanding hardware is important for
purchasing decisions
• Computers are classified according to
power
• All computers have a CPU to process
instructions
• Clock rate measures the speed of a
CPU
• Data word: the number of bits the computer can
process in a single cycle
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 53
 Summary (continued)
• Computer power: measured by its speed,
memory size, and number of processor cores
• RAM: volatile memory that forms the largest part
of computer’s memory
• ROM is nonvolatile; it does not require power
• Imaging devices help process text and graphics
• When evaluating external storage, consider
transfer rate, capacity, portability, and form of
data organization supported

Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 54

 Summary (continued)
• Data is organized sequentially on tapes
• Direct access storage devices such as RAM,
magnetic disks, and optical discs allow random
access
• Databases require direct access storage
devices
• When purchasing hardware, professionals
should consider cost, power, scalability, and
compatibility
• Information technology may pose health risks
such as carpal tunnel syndrome
Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 55