New Perspectives Classic Labs

A wide variety of peripheral devices provide expandability for computer systems and provide users with the equipment necessary to accomplish tasks efficiently. In the Peripheral Devices Lab you will use an online product catalog of peripheral devices.  

1.  Click the Steps button and begin the Steps. Complete the Steps to find out how to use the online product catalog. As you work through the Steps, answer all of the Quick Check questions. When you complete the Steps, you will see a Summary Report of your performance on the Quick Checks. Follow the directions on the screen to print the Summary Report.  

2.  After you know how to use the product catalog to look up products, features, and prices, use the catalog to do the following:

 a. List the characteristics that differentiate printers.  

 b. List the factors that differentiate monitors.  

 c. Describe the factors that determine the appropriate type of scanner for a task.

 d. List the peripheral devices in the catalog that are specially designed for notebook computers.  

3.  Suppose that the company that produces the peripheral devices catalog selected your name from its list of customers for a free scanner. You can select any one of the scanners in the catalog. Assume that you own a notebook computer to which you could attach any one of the scanners. Click the Explore button and use the catalog to help you write a one-page paper explaining which scanner you would select, why you would select it, and how you would use it.  

4.  Suppose you are in charge of a new college computing lab. The lab will include 25 computers that are used by students from all departments at the college. You have a $3,000 budget for printers. Use the product catalog to decide which printers you would purchase for the lab. Write a one-page memo to your boss that justifies your choice.  

5.  Suppose you own a basic computer system, such as the one in Figure 1-10 of this textbook. You have an idea that you can earn the money for your college tuition by using your computer to help other students produce spiffy reports with color graphs and scanned images. Your parents have agreed to "loan" you $1,000 to get started. Click the Explore button and look through the online peripheral devices catalog. List any of the devices that might help you with this business venture. Write a one-page paper explaining how you would spend your $1,000 to get the equipment you need to start the business.