When we talk about computers, it's common to talk about PCs. PC parts. PC desks. PC games. And so on. But what is a PC exactly? What's the difference between a PC and a computer?
Nowadays, the term PC is synonymous with desktop computer, that is, a computer that's installed on a desk and doesn't normally move around, different from a portable computer like a laptop or notebook.
The acronym PC is an abbreviation the phrase Personal Computer, however, this phrase doesn't really make much sense in the context of today's world.
PC may also mean "politically correct," as in "PC culture," but this has nothing to do what this article is about.
Originally, around 1975, computers were too expensive for any random person to acquire one for themselves. Computers were devices used by universities and companies, not individuals. One solution to this price problem were computers that could be shared between multiple users, that is, you didn't own a computer, you paid rent for the computer's owner to use the processor for some time. With the advance of electronic components, it became possible for to create a computer that was non-shared, a computer that an individual could use for themselves, and this type of computer would be called a personal computer ,or PC1.
Old PCs had a smaller number of hardware parts. For example, there were PCs that were a single device, with keyboard, CPU, and monitor screen all glued together. Modern PCs are made of separate parts. You can use a PC with any keyboard, mouse, speakers, or screen that you want, all you need is a conector cable. If it's for wireless devices, you don't even need the cable. The internal components of PCs also evolved. Nowadays, the PC is a very large chip called the motherboard, which comes with various holes that you can fill with other types of chips of your choice, including the CPU that you want, the amount of RAM that you want, the graphics card that you want, the power supply that you want, the hard disk drives, SSDs, and whatever other drives that you want, so long as these components are compatible with the holes of the motherboard. Very old PC parts may not be compatible with a more modern motherboard, and vice-versa. Wrapping these internal components we have a black or beige box called the PC case, or cabinet, although some people call this cabinet the "CPU" because it's inside of it that the CPU is.
There are various personal computers these days that aren't PCs. What we call PCs are desktop computers. Laptop computers aren't called PCs, even though they can have the sabe capabilities of a desktop computer. In a certain way, laptops are similar to old PCs, since they are a single hardware device with screen and keyboard glued together. Similarly, notebooks aren't called PCs, despite similarities. Besides this, although a smartphone is technically a computer, we don't call cellphones PCs. The term PC refers specifically to a desktop computer.
On the other hand, non-personal computers are also called PCs if they are desktops. For example, a computer in an internet café, which you pay to use for a period of time, is called a PC. Public computers, found in libraries, are called PCs. The computer you use in your workplace would also be called PC. PC really has nothing to do with "personal" these days. It just means a desktop computer.
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