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and smaller devices. Over the past 20 years, Microsoft and Intel have become so dominant in the
software and hardware ends of the PC business that they have, de facto, set the worldwide standard for
PCs, which is referred to as the Wintel standard, short for Microsoft Windows and the Intel CPU
(central processing unit) chip. The Wintel standard continues to dominate the personal computer
market, thus affecting both the hardware marketplace and the applications software that is developed.
Currently, Hewlett-Packard/Compaq, Dell, and Acer Inc. are the largest producers of personal
computers, with Apple Inc. a distant fourth. It‟s important to note that Apple computers use a different
architecture than Wintel machines and their image in the marketplace is focused on graphics and such.
In order to compete, Apple now offers a dual-boot machine so users can run software written for
Windows as well as software written for Apple‟s own operating system on the same machine.
Personal computers come in two basic shapes: desktop and laptop. Regardless of their shape, all
PCs have the same basic components. When you buy a computer, you usually have a choice on the
size, the speed, and the amount of specific components that will make up your system. The basic
components with which users must concern themselves are the CPU, RAM (random-access memory),
hard disk, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM (read-only memory) drivers, monitor, modem, and various adapters.
The rest of this section deals with these basic options.
Beyond personal computers, we are also seeing the emergence of a whole range of small digital
products for supporting effective managers. These products, as a group, are called personal digital
assistants (PDAs), and will be discussed separately.
Desktop Computers
Desktop computers generally have a tower that contains the drives and components of the computer
itself, a separate monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. The parts inside the tower of most desktop
computers are very similar. Many of the manufacturers of desktop machines use parts from the same
suppliers, as there are only a handful of companies that manufacture hard disk drives, for example.
Before buying a machine, compare the attributes and capabilities of many different machines. Also,
check the warranties offered by the different manufacturers. A one-year warranty is fairly typical;
however, some computers come with two- or three-year warranties. Beware of hype advertising, and
read the fine print. Many advertised specials do not include the monitor, which will cost upward of
$100, depending on the size and quality.
Building on Apple‟s success with its desktop Macs that have the monitor, drives, and components
all in one piece, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony have recently begun to offer all-in-one desktops. At
present these machines are pricier than standard desktops, but consumers are attracted to their compact
size without having to trade power for size.
Laptop Computers
The laptop computer (also called a notebook computer) has become a mainstay for the traveling
worker. It provides all the functionality and most of the power of many desktop units in a package that
weighs less than six pounds. A laptop is powered by standard electricity or for about four hours using