The Macintosh Platform

• Macintosh computer developed a project depends entirely upon the project's delivery requirements, its content, and the tools you will need for production.


• Apple introduced the first Power Macintosh computers based on reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) microprocessors alliance with IBM and Motorola.


• G3 series was introduced with clock speeds greater than 233 MHz and offering higher performance than existing Pentium-based Windows machines.


• G4 computers offered gigahertz speeds and a dual processor arrangement with a 20-times performance increase over the G3.


• Apple adopted Intel's processor architecture, an engineering decision that allows Macintoshes to run natively with any x86 operating system. Using the Intel Core, Intel Xcon 5100 series, and Intel Core 2 microprocessors, all models of Macintosh are pre-installed with the native version of the latest Mac OS.

The Windows Platform

• Windows computer is not a computer per se, but rather a collection of parts that are tied together by the requirements of the Windows operating system. Power supplies, processors, hard disks, CD-ROM players, video and audio components, monitors, keyboards, and mice.


• These components are assembled and branded by Dell, IBM, Gateway, and others into computers that run Windows.

Networking Macintosh and Windows Computer

• Local Area Network (LAN), workstations are usually located within a short distance of one another, on the same floor of a building.


• Wide Area Networks (WANs) are communication systems spanning great distances, typically set up and managed by large corporations and institutions for their own use, or to share with other users.


• LANs allow direct communication and sharing of peripheral resources such as file servers, printers, scanners, and network modems. Use a variety of proprietary technologies, most commonly Ethernet, to perform the connections and usually be set up with twisted-pair telephone wire.


• WANs are expensive to install and maintain, but other methods for long-distance communication are available such as America Online or MSN.

Connection

• SCSI
  1. Small Computer System Interface was built into all models of the Macintosh, before Apple switched over to the less-expensive IDE bus starting with G3 Macs and iMacs.
  2. SCSI adds peripheral equipment such as disk drives, scanners, CD-ROM players, and other peripheral devices that conform to the SCSI standard.


• IDE, EIDE, Ultra IDE, ATA, and Ultra ATA
  1. Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) connections, also known as Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) connections, are typically only internal, and they connect hard disks, CD-ROM drives, and other peripherals mounted inside the PC.
  2. With IDE controllers, a combination of hard disks, CD-ROM drives, or other devices in PC can be install.


• Universal Serial Device (USB)
  1. These devices are automatically recognized ("plug-and-play") and installed without users needing to install special cards or turn the computer off and on when making the connection.


• FireWire
  1. Supporting high-bandwidth serial data transfer, particularly for digital video and mass storage.
  2. Can connect multiple computers and peripheral devices.

Memory and Storage Devices

• Random Access Memory (RAM)


• Read-Only memory (ROM)


• Floppy and Hard Disks


• Zip, Jaz, Syquest, and Optical Storage Devices


• Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)


• Flash or Thumb Drives


• CD-ROM Players


• CD-RW

Input Devices

• Keyboard


• Mice


• Trackballs


• Touchscreens


• Graphic Tablets


• Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Devices


• Voice Recognition System


• Digital Cameras

Output Hardware

• Audio Devices


• Amplifiers and Speakers


• Monitors


• Projectors


• Printers

Communication Devices

• Modems


• ISDN and DSL


• Cable Modems