For getting started or a quick review, this is the basics of how things work. I take tech down to the roots.
A traditional desktop computer is pretty much worthless without being connected to a keyboard and monitor. Most modern applications also want a mouse. Even laptops — and pretty much all modern electronics — require at least one type of connection. They all need power, and most of them get it through a charger. Understanding ports…
Even as a technology professional, I rarely give much thought to the process that brings new software to my computer, phone, or tablet. Most of us don’t, as long as it works. We download a piece of software, double-click on the icon, and away we go! The action of double-clicking that installer, as simple as…
It’s kind of a no-brainer to understand that all our wonderful devices require power. Most often, when we think about needing power, we mean the power to our home, and from the outlets in the wall or our car’s charging ports into our devices. But have you ever wondered what happens when the power reaches…
For years, computers used something called the BIOS to get everything going when you pressed the power button. It did the job—but it was old. Really old. Like, 1980s old. As computers got faster and more powerful, BIOS started showing its age. It couldn’t handle big hard drives, took longer to start up, and didn’t…
Even if you’re not deep into computers, have you ever wondered why some computers can make games and videos look amazing, while others struggle? The secret is in the graphics card. This one component matters more than any other factor in making videos flow smoothly and look real instead of choppy and pixelated.You won’t be…
You’ve probably heard the word “motherboard” thrown around—but what does it actually do? Is it just a fancy piece of green plastic? (Spoiler: it’s a lot more important than that.) The motherboard is a central “hub” or something like the nervous system of a computer. It connects the various components of the system and allows…
Ever wonder why some computers feel lightning-fast while others struggle to open a simple web page? The secret lies in the tiny but powerful chip inside your device—the CPU. I touched on CPUs in this article on computer internals. Think of it as the brain of your computer, processing everything from emails to Netflix streams….
I know you use computers, because whatever type of device you’re reading this on, it’s some type of computer. We’ve gotten so accustomed to them that we have stopped being amazed by them. I have several friends — of varying ages — who prefer not to use digital devices anymore than absolutely necessary, and let…
Are you a digital packrat? Most of us are, and it’s easy to become one. Digital files don’t take up physical space, so we’re not tripping over them walking across the room. But if you can’t find a file you know you saved “somewhere,” you might be a digital packrat.Good file management can save you…
When you use one of your digital devices, you probably just pick it up and start using it. You probably don’t need to select which account to use, unless you share a computer. Mobile devices typically lack user accounts, because they’re personal devices. You may share a tablet, but you rarely share a phone. However,…
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