Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 178. Chapters: Telephone, Local area network, Printer, Calculator, Laser printer, Mimeograph, Paper clip, Inkjet printer, Fax, Adding machine, Daisy wheel printer, Duplicating machines, Paper shredder, Reprography, Personal computer, Volta Laboratory and Bureau, Chester Carlson, Laser pointer, Interactive whiteboard, Mechanical calculator, Image scanner, Multifunction printer, Photocopier, Locker, Action Office, Océ, Ink cartridge, Herman Miller, Formula calculator, HP Universal Print Driver, Desk, Toner, Filing cabinet, Overhead projector, Pencil sharpener, Hole punch, Ticker tape, Thermofax, Dictaphone, Dictation machine, Software calculator, Promethean World, Video projector, Inkjet refill kit, Stationery, HP FutureSmart firmware, File folder, The HON Company, Chalkboard, Scotch Tape, Tape dispenser, EBeam, HP Open Extensibility Platform, Address book, Binder clip, Konica Minolta OpenAPI, Compatible Toner Cartridge, Concord Supplies, Ring binder, Office chair, Registered fax, Luidia, Inc., Paper cutter, Remanufactured Ink Cartridge, Filofax, Memjet printer, Tickler file, Telautograph, List of duplicating processes, IP PBX, Office supplies, Franklin Planner, Pouch laminator, Danka, Drawing pin, Electric pen, Flip chart, Sellotape, Lefax, Mobile shelving, Heated roll laminator, All-Steel Equipment Company, Mini PC, STS Refill Technology, Tape Wrangler, Bulletin board, Safir Office Machines Museum, Solander box, Rolodex, Gestetner, Stationery cabinet, Presentation folder, Letter-quality printer, Manila folder, Punched pocket, Paper knife, Automatic document feeder, Digital duplicator, Nowy Styl Group, Brass fastener, Cold roll laminators, Rotary storage, Cyclostyle, Bungee chair, Neon message board, Nashuatec, Letter scale. Excerpt: A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator. PCs include any type of computer that is used in a "personal" manner. This is in contrast to the batch processing or time-sharing models which allowed large expensive mainframe systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time, or large data processing systems which required a full-time staff to operate efficiently. A personal computer may be a desktop computer or other mobile types, for example a laptop, tablet PC or a handheld PC (also called a palmtop) that is smaller than a laptop. The most common microprocessors in personal computers are x86-compatible CPUs. Software applications for personal computers include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, Web browsers and e-mail clients, digital media playback, games, and myriad personal productivity and special-purpose software applications. Modern personal computers often have connections to the Internet, allowing access to the World Wide Web and a wide range of other resources. A PC may be used at home or in an office. Personal computers may be connected to a local area network (LAN), either by a cable or a wireless connection. While early PC owners usually had to write their own programs to do anything useful with the machines, today's users have access to a wide range of commercial and non-commercial software, which is provided in ready-to-run or ready-to-compile form. Since the 1980s, Microsoft and Intel have dominated much of the personal computer market, first with MS-DOS and th...
