Includes index.

Contents: Introduction to personal computers: Overview -- PCs in the workplace -- What's a personal computer? -- The Role of data and programs -- A Closer look at storage -- Hardware and software -- Organizing data and programs -- Types of PCs -- Computer networks -- Using PCs: a comprehensive example -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Online review -- Hardware: overview -- Input hardware -- Processing hardware -- Secondary storage hardware -- Output hardware -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Interactive exercise -- Online review -- Software: -- Overview -- Whose software is it? -- The User interface -- Elements of a graphical user interface -- Systems software -- Applications software -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Interactive exercises -- Online review -- Communications and networks: Overview -- Telecommunications applications -- Telecommunications media -- Adapting computers to telecommunications media -- Network topologies -- Local networks -- Wide area networks (WANs) -- Communications protocols -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Interactive exercise -- Online review -- Introduction to the internet and world wide web: Overview -- Evolution of the internet -- What does the internet have to offer? -- Internet addresses -- Desktop tools for accessing the internet -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Interactive exercises -- Online review -- Developing your own PC: Overview -- The PC marketplace -- Selecting a PC -- Hardware and software installation -- Operating a PC -- Upgrading -- Learning more about PCs -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Online review -- Social issues involving computers: Overview -- Computers, work, and our well-being -- Computer crime -- Computers and privacy -- Ethical issues regarding computers -- Summary and key terms -- Exercises -- Projects -- Interactive exercise -- Online review.