本书采用*先进的方法和技术讲述了计算机基础知识,涉及面之广、内容之丰富、方法之独特,令人叹为观止,堪称计算机基础知识的百科全书。随书附带的多媒体光盘精彩之致,包含了交互式英文版原书、练习题库等。光盘中不仅有录像、动画、交互式术语表等,甚至还有评分记录,这使学生能马上了解自己的学习效果,教师也可以马上了解学生的学习情况。这样生动的学习方法,令人有如沐春风之感,谁还能忘得了书中的内容呢?本书可用作高校各专业的计算机导论教材和教学参考书,也可供广大计算机爱好者参考使用。
本版新增内容
·涵盖了计算学科的发展趋势和*新的技术进步成果,这些内容将带给读者*前沿的技术信息。
·每章新增了与**有关的小节,帮助学生思考**问题与计算机概念方方面面的关系。
·向学生提供了购买和安装软硬件的实用建议和指导。

CHAPTER 1 COMPUTERS AND DIGITAL BASICS
Section A: All Things Digital
The Digital Revolution
Convergence
Digital Society
QuickCheck A
Section B: Digital Devices
Computer Basics
Personal Computers, Servers, Mainframes,
and Supercomputers
PDAs, Portable Players, and Smart Phones
Microcontrollers
QuickCheck B
Section C: Digital Data Representation
Data Representation Basics
Representing Numbers, Text, and Pictures
Quantifying Bits and Bytes
Circuits and Chips
QuickCheck C
Section D: Digital Processing
Programs and Instruction Sets
Processor Logic
QuickCheck D
Section E: Password Security
Authentication Protocols
Password Hacks
Secure Passwords
QuickCheck E
CHAPTER 2 COMPUTER HARDWARE
Section A: Personal Computer Basics
Personal Computer Systems
Desktop and Portable Computers
Home, Media, Game, and Small Business
Systems
Buying Computer System Components
QuickCheck A
Section B: Microprocessors and Memory
Microprocessor Basics
Today's Microprocessors
Random Access Memory
Read-Only Memory
EEPROM
QuickCheck B
Section C: Storage Devices
Storage Basics
Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology
CD and DVD Technology
Solid State Storage
Storage Wrapup
QuickCheck C
Section D: Input and Output Devices
Basic Input Devices
Display Devices
Printers
Installing Peripheral Devices
QuickCheck D
Section E: Hardware Security
Anti-Theft Devices
Surge Protection and Battery Backup
Basic Maintenance
Troubleshooting and Repair
QuickCheck E
CHAPTER 3 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Section A: Software Basics
Software Categories
Application Software
Utility Software
Device Drivers
QuickCheck A
……
CHAPTER 4 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND PILE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 5 LANS AND WLANS
CHAPTER 6 THE INTERNET
CHAPTER 7 THE WEB AND E-MAIL
CHAPTER 8 DIGITAL MEDIA
CHAPTER 9 THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY: HISTORY, CAREERS, AND ETHICS
CHAPTER 10 INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGH
CHAPTER 11 DATABASES
CHAPTER 12 COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

本书的编写风格非常清晰,章节的划分合理实用。书中包含的技术信息对于那些已经初步了解基本计算机概念的学生既轻松有趣又非常实用。
——Martha Lindberg,明尼苏达州立大学
本书以学生易于理解的方式将计算机系统的基本概念和技术娓娓道来,每章还辅以精选的示例和插图,是一本内容全面、易学易懂的计算机导论教材。
——Gerald Hensel,巴伦西亚社区学院