RAM vs Hard Disk vs CD ROM (vs ROM)
RAM goes away when you turn off the system
Be able to choose a system for to satisfy your needs (space, memory, growth needs, system response time needs)
Be able to understand a computer specification (memory, hard disk, processor, ports, operating system, application systems, USB port)
Sizes - Kilo, Mega, Giga, Tera
Know whether something is hardware or software or input or output
Know whether software is application or operating system
Know the difference between hard disk storage, off line storage (zip disk, CD, DVD) and memory
Know what a zip drive and CD drive are
Know how to take care of diskettes
What is defragmentation, and why do you need to do it?
How to protect against viruses
Meaning of viewable image area and resolution of a monitor
How to remove pop-ups at the source (adware remover)
How to protect against virus and spyware (anti-virus with updates; spybot; backups)
Which is faster 56 K bps or 9 M bps?

Printer Qualities: Resolution – dpi; Print Speed (and memory); Cost to Purchase; Cost to Run (cost per page; monthly pages & maintenance)

Uninterruptible power supply - definition and why you would want one

Printer technologies:

• Ink Jet - squirts ink from little ink cartridges at the page; can be slower than laser; can be expensive per page; inexpensive for color; not great for over 100 pages a day
• Laser - like a photocopier using big toner cartridge; color much more expensive; tends to print quickly; often less expensive per page; heavy duty cycle
• Solid Ink Printer - uses melted wax for thermal transfer to paper; priced between ink jet and color laser; heavy duty cycle, but not as heavy as laser; good price per color page, but not fantastic price per black page; prints on more types of paper than laser or ink jet
• Dot Matrix - hits a ribbon like a typewriter; poor quality; continuous feed paper; heavy duty cycle
• Note that cost information reflects market conditions which will change in the future.