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personal computer (PC)

By Ben Lutkevich

What is a personal computer (PC)?

A personal computer (PC) is a microcomputer designed for use by one person at a time.

Prior to the PC, computers were designed for -- and only affordable for -- companies that attached terminals for multiple users to a single large mainframe computer whose resources were shared among all users. By the 1980s, technological advances made it feasible to build a small computer that an individual could own and use as a word processor and for other computing functions.

The advent of the era of the personal computer was acknowledged by Time magazine in 1982, when it broke with tradition by choosing the PC as its Man of the Year.

What are personal computers used for?

Whether they are home computers or business ones, PCs can be used to store, retrieve and process data of all kinds. A PC runs firmware that supports an operating system (OS), which supports a spectrum of other software. This software lets consumers and business users perform a range of general-purpose tasks, such as the following:

Users can repurpose older PCs for tasks outside of standard computing, such as contributing processing power to distributed computing projects. The Folding@home project is an example where idle processing power is used to run simulations of cell protein dynamics to help scientists find cures for chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease.

Types of personal computers

Personal computers fall into various categories, such as the following:

Other ways of categorizing PCs include the following:

Personal computing devices differ in other ways as well. For example, laptops and notebooks generally use less power than desktops, but often don't have as much storage. Tablets and smartphones typically have less input/output (I/O) capability than laptops and desktops.

PC components can be switched out to modify the devices. For example, people who play video games often construct gaming PCs that maximize processing power and speed using high-quality processors.

Components of personal computers

Personal computer systems generally consist of the following hardware components:

History of personal computers

Some significant dates in PC history include the following:

Examples of personal computers

The term personal computer traditionally has been used to describe an IBM-compatible PC as opposed to an Apple computer. The distinction is both technical and cultural, going back to the early years of PCs when IBM and Apple were the two major competitors.

Originally, the IBM PC was one with an Intel microprocessor architecture and a DOS or Microsoft Windows OS written to use an Intel microprocessor. The Apple Macintosh used a proprietary OS.

IBM-compatible PCs were associated with business use. Apple computers were known for having more intuitive user interfaces and were associated with graphic design and desktop publishing. Although those distinctions have become less clear-cut in recent years, people often still categorize personal computers as either Macs or non-Macs.

A few other notable examples of personal computers over the years include the following:

Personal computer vs. desktop vs. laptop

Laptop and desktop computers are both types of personal computers.

Laptops

These portable computers have a rechargeable battery, keyboard, trackpad and screen attached to a case that contains the storage, RAM, fan and other central components. Laptops are portable, but might have less memory and less powerful processing capabilities. Laptops are also harder to customize. Components are packed tightly in the case for the sake of portability and are often permanently attached.

Desktops

These computers are not portable and usually consist of a tower that encases the processor, RAM, storage and I/O ports. They typically have an external monitor and a keyboard that plugs into the tower. Desktops do not have the benefit of portability, but likely have better processing power and more memory than laptops. They are often customizable, with preexisting space in the case to add extra components.

Businesses often need desktop management software to track and manage the many PCs they own. Compare these eight desktop management software options to find the best way to manage desktops and other devices in the enterprise.

14 Feb 2023

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