The console, that main box that really is your computer system, doesn't stand alone. Into the console you plug every other gizmo that you use as part of the computer system. To accommodate them, the console has many, many holes into which those things plug. Not only that, the console has doors and slots so that you can access important things inside the console directly. The console has interesting buttons to press and switches to throw.
- Try to find on your own PC the things mentioned here. Get to know their locations as well as their official computer names.
- Not every console is the same. Use this information as a general guide.
Points of interest on the front of the console
The front of the console is where you interact with the computer system directly, by adding or removing disks, observing lights, punching buttons, and perhaps even plugging in one or two special items.
Use Figure 1 as your reference as you go hunting for the following items:
Figure 1: Things to note on the front of the console.
CD-ROM or DVD drive: Like a music or video player, your computer digests CDs and DVDs through a slot or tray on the front of the console. Some computers may have a dual CD/DVD drive, and others may have one of each.
Future expansion: Some spots on the console's nose may look like they're CD-ROM or disk drives, but they're not! They're simply blanks that cover holes - holes you can use for adding things to your computer someday.
Floppy drive: This slot eats floppy disks. Some software comes on floppy disks, and you can use these disks to move files from one PC to another. Not every PC sold today comes with a floppy drive; they are becoming obsolete.
Air vents: Most consoles sport some type of air vent on the front. Don't block the air vents with books or sticky notes! The thing's gotta breathe.
The secret panel. Some PCs, especially home models, have a secret panel or door that pops open. Behind it, you can find connectors for joysticks, microphones, headphones, or other handy items you may need to plug and unplug from time to time. Having the secret panel is handier than having to reach around behind the computer and fumble for plugs and holes.
Buttons and lights: Most of a computer's buttons are on the keyboard. A few of the more important ones are on the console, and these buttons on fancier PCs are accompanied by many impressive tiny lights. These buttons and lights include the following:
- Power button: It's no longer a plain on-off button - it's the power button, and it can do more than just turn the computer off or on.
- Reset button: Rare, but still found on some computers is a button that forces the computer into a restart during times of woe. Consider it a plus if your PC has such a button.
- Sleep button: This rare button is designed specifically to put the computer into a coma and suspend all activity without turning the computer off. On some PCs, this button and the power button are the same.
- Disk drive lights: These lights flash when the hard drive, floppy drive, or CD-ROM drive is working. On a hard drive, the light is your reassurance that it's alive and happy and doing its job. On all other types of drives (with removable disks), the light indicates that the computer is using the drive.
Things of note on the back of the console
The console's backside is its busy side. That's where you find various connectors for the many other devices in your computer system: a place to plug in the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and just about anything else that came in the box with the PC.
Power connector: This thing is where the PC plugs into a cord that plugs into the wall.
Fan: Air gets sucked in here, blows around inside the console to keep things cool, and then puffs out the vents.
Voltage switch: Use this item to switch power frequencies to match the specifications for your country or region.
Expansion slots: These slots are available for adding new components on expansion cards to the console and expanding your PC's hardware. Any connectors on the expansion cards appear in this area, such as the audio and video connectors on a DVD expansion card.
Vents: The breathing thing again.
I/O panel: Aside from the power cord, and anything attached to an expansion card, the rest of your PC's expansion options and plug-in type things are located in a central area.
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