Unit #1 - Purchasing a Computer

PAC Part 1 - Purchasing A Computer (Intro)

  1. A bit (b) is the smallest unit of storage on a digital device.
  2. A bit = {0, 1}
  3. A byte (B) is 8 bits and stores a character.
  4. The letter "A" is a character and stores as "01000001".
  5. Conversion Table
    1000 B   = 1 KB
    1000 KB = 1 MB
    1000 MB = 1 GB
    1000 GB = 1 TB
  6. Computer numbers originate from doubling:
    2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024
  7. Which has more storage? (< > =)
    - 32 GB   or   32 MB?
    - 320 GB   or   3 TB?
    - 16,000,000 KB    or    16 GB?

  8. How many 5MB songs can a 64GB iPod store?
    How many 2GB movies can a 32GB iPad store?

  9. What is a GHz?
    Hz stands for "hertz" and measures frequency (or cycles).
    Chips (also known as "processors") are the brains of the computer and answer 'math questions'.  
    For us, Hz is a measure of 'math questions' per second (or "cycles per second").  
    2GHz means 2,000,000,000 'math questions' per second.

PAC Part 2 - Computer Comparison Chart

Download the Excel file below.  ("Computer Comparison Chart.xls")
Open this file in either MS Excel or LibreOffice Calc.
Row #1 = The first computer ad in Flyer #1
Row #2 = The third computer ad in Flyer #1
Row #3 = Any online computer ad that you can find.  Try these? -->
Row #4 = Any paper computer ad from a flyer that was brought in.

MS Excel File (to start the chart)

Computer Comparison Chart.xls
File Size: 15 kb
File Type: xls
Download File

Links to Online Ads

UNB Store Flyer #1 or #2
TigerDirect.ca
Dell.ca (click for "Home" deals) or Dell's DFSDirect.ca
HP laptops or desktops
(Staples & Futureshop flyers are available in class.)


The above MS Excel file looks like this:

Brand
& Make
& Model		 Processor
/ Chip
(Intel, AMD)		 RAM
(DDR3)		 Data Storage
(HDD, SSD)		 DVD Network Display Other Price
1.                 
2.                 
3.                 

PAC Part 3 - Comparison Scenarios

Picture
  1. Make a new page on your Weebly site and call it "Comparisons".
    (To make it fancy, drag the page name box slightly left to indent it under the "Purchasing" page.)
  2. Add "Paragraph with Picture" so you can an image of your computer flyer and a link to it.
  3. Add a "Paragraph with Title" to explain about your Excel "Computer Comparison Chart".
  4. Add a "File" (under "Multimedia" side-tab) and upload your Excel file.
  5. Add your Computer Recommendations based on the "Comparison Scenarios".



  



PAC Part 4 - Project: "A Computer for Helen"

Picture
Our end-of-unit project (15 points) is to make a
presentation (MS PowerPoint or LibreOffice) containing a computer recommendation for Helen Parr.

Marking criteria here.


Presentation Bonus

Remember, you can earn a bonus of ~2 points if you do a great presentation using LibreOffice.