Desktop Computers

Desktop computers are computer made for use on a desk particularly in a home or office. There are four types of desktop computers which are home or personal computers, workstations, internet servers and special communications computers.

They are the cheapest form of computer and tremendously popular for home, school and businesses where they are used to perform normal office tasks and internet access as well as other programs that enhance the usability of the computer such as photo editing software or music players.

A desktop computer is made up of the monitor, keyboard, mouse and computer tower which contains a motherboard, CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), hard disc drive and other components. Desktop computers may also include speakers, a printer and a microphone. Parts on desktop computers can be easily replaced or upgraded at a relatively little cost.

Personal computers all have ports which can be used to plug in external devices. The main ones include USB (Universal Serial Bus) which is used for the majority of peripherals; Ethernet for internet connections; a headphone hack to connect audio devices; PS/2 which is used for keyboards and mice; and serial / parallel ports for any device that uses a device with a serial or parallel connection respectively.

The first desktop computers were produced in the 1970s and were originally known as microcomputers in order to differentiate them from mainframe and minicomputers that major computer companies traditionally sold. The first pre-assembled desktop computer was produced in 1975 and was called the MITS Altair 8800. However, this computer was aimed more towards the computer hobbyists than the general consumer and so was not that popular.

It was the 1980s which saw desktop computer sales soar as everyone from multi-national corporations to small households saw the benefits of having a computer and the tasks that it could perform for them. In the 1990s the internet explosion was a major contributory factor towards the desktop computer being a standard household item. It is relatively uncommon for a household to be without some form of desktop computer in today’s Western World.

Desktop computers have had massive leaps in technological advances but because of the number being made and cheaper production costs, the average cost of a home computer has reduced drastically. A desktop computer in the 1970s would have retailed for around £700 but will have had very limited functionality. Nowadays a desktop computer can be purchased for between £200 and £500. A personal computer is usually cheaper than a laptop computer (also known as a notebook) because the parts don’t have to be miniaturized.

Some popular brands of desktop computers are Dell, Acer, Hewlett Packard, and Sony. Dell are well known as manufacturers of desktop computers because they custom build computers according to selections visitors to their website makes. Dell is an online only company with no stores or stock in third party retail outlets and therefore have cheaper prices.