A microcomputer is ... A microcomputer on Windows

A microcomputer is, more often than not, a laptop or laptop, the only central processor of which is a microprocessor. They are used for arithmetic operations, management of complex technological processes. Such microcomputers are equipped with peripheral devices, such as displays, and analog-to-digital converters, printers and others.

Basic signs of a microcomputer

• Bus connection of system devices.
• Complete unification of hardware and software.
• A large number of potential customers.

Kinds of microcomputers

• Stationary. This species is the most popular and widespread. It consists of a single system unit, which is located separately from external devices. After all, what is a microcomputer without a mouse, keyboard and, of course, a monitor? To a separate system unit, it is possible to connect other external devices, for example: a printer, a game joystick, an acoustic system.
• Portable. Nowadays this species has also become very popular. The most famous and common portable microcomputer is a laptop. It differs from the previous only in that the external and internal devices are combined in one housing. But the other appearance does not take away the possibility to connect other external devices to the microcomputer.
• Networking. After the worldwide network began to develop rapidly in the 1990s, it became necessary to invent network microcomputers. This kind is designed to work only on the network. They are much cheaper than stationary or portable, because they do not need disk drives and their own memory. And soon, telephone companies, schools and other educational institutions will be fully equipped with network microcomputers.
• Pocket. Small PDAs weighing 200-400 grams, which fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Not so long ago, namely in the 1990s, a PDA with operating systems appeared. This made it possible to exchange information with other computers and microcomputers, as well as connect to the worldwide network. Pocket microcomputers do not have a drive and a hard drive. Most of these computers are touchscreen, but there are also models with a small keyboard.

Novelty Ainol

Many well-known Chinese company Ainol has released a microcomputer on Windows 8.1. A small device measuring 145 x 116 x 15 mm and weighing 330 grams, more like an external hard drive, rather than a powerful microcomputer, but this is a real PC. The device boasts a quad-core processor with a frequency of 1.33-1.83 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and a built-in flash module of 32 GB, with the ability to expand to 128 GB with a memory card. USB 3.0, Micro HDMI 1.4 is added to the standard USB 2.0 port. In addition, the device is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

This microcomputer on Windows is equipped with a powerful rechargeable battery - 7000mA, which allows a long time to work with the device without charging from the mains. Thanks to its battery, the product can even serve as a recharge for a phone or tablet. Plus, there is a remote control, for more convenient use of the device, which is built-in keyboard.

The best single-board microcomputer

This invention is considered the best among similar built-in computer systems, and its price forces users to thinklessly buy themselves and recommend to friends. But not at a single price can please the users of this device.

Food

In order to power the Raspberry Pi microcomputer, you need a voltage of 5V and a current strength of 700 mA (the more, the better, the main thing, not less) and the microUSB cable. Suitable chargers from Apple Iphone or Nokia. However, do not attempt to charge the device using the computer's USB port.

For convenient use of Raspberry Pi, the board has an HDMI port. This will allow you to easily connect the device to a TV or monitor. It happens that the monitor does not support HDMI, in which case you can use an HDMI-DVI adapter or regular "tulips".

The Raspberry Pi has 2 ports, which allows you to connect any keyboard or mouse. And to connect the network device, as usual, you need an ethernet cable. It is enough to use it to connect the device to a router or any other equipment.

Installing the OS

What is a microcomputer without an operating system? Unnecessary fee. Before you start Raspberry Pi for the first time, you must first record the OS image on the microSD card. This can be done from any computer by downloading the OS image from the main RPi page. After preparing the memory card, you can start running Raspberry Pi, thereby downloading the system.

1. You need to insert a memory card into the slot and connect the device to the power.
2. After the boot process has started on the display, the device can be rebooted several times. It depends on which operating system was chosen.
3. You should go through the standard installation process.
4. After that it is necessary to fill in the registration data. They should be searched on the OS boot page.

To work with the usual interface for many, you must enter a specific command in the device.

Such a microcomputer is, of course, a budget option, but it can show considerable performance to its user.

Microcomputer Cubieboard

After the enchanting success of Raspberry Pi, the Chinese engineer decided to repeat their triumph and released a new inexpensive version of the microcomputer - Cubieboard. This device is equipped with a powerful ARM processor with a frequency of 1 GHz. Video Accelerator Mali400 allows you to enjoy the nice looking HD quality. 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, on which the boot loader and the operating system will be installed. Like the Raspberry Pi, the device has an HDMI output that allows you to connect to any monitor or TV, you can use the world wide network with an ethernet cable, as well as two USB and infrared ports.

There is such a microcomputer only 49 dollars. For this device, this is not much at all, and you can work as follows. For those who like to entertain, in addition to all the auxiliary 96 pins are withdrawn.

The very first party released 200 samples, which dispersed very quickly. Therefore, immediately manufacturers started selling the second batch of 1,000 copies. Such an excitement around this device arose because there was an active attraction of money, and a significant role was played by the support of the IT community.

It should be remembered that a microcomputer is the cheapest and most compact type among all similar devices. It has almost all the devices that a stationary or portable computer does and is not inferior to them in performance, and the price is so symbolic only because the appearance is not quite presentable. However, having bought such a device for 25-80 dollars, few will see how it looks. Although its functional characteristics are fixed, such a device works quite productively.