Page 102 - DCAP303_MULTIMEDIA_SYSTEMS

Multimedia Systems

notes objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Understand Macintosh versus Windows
• Explain different types of connections
• Describe storage devices
• Understand different types of input devices
• Explain output devices

introduction

To begin your quest with a multimedia project you must have a decent computer. A decent
computer means you should have adequate hardware. Hardware interprets your commands
into computer activity. As of now, if you are asked to develop a multimedia project, you would
ask for a fast computer with lot of speed and storage.
There are many more things that you need to know like which component makes a computer
fast, what is the device for storage, etc. The components are thus divided into five categories viz.
system devices, memory and storage devices, input devices, output devices and communication
devices.

6.1 Macintosh versus Windows

This controversy often sparks heated arguments to say the least. Moreover, there have also been
instances of fights, vandalism and worse over which is the best. Windows users claim that Mac
users are arrogant, citing that old “computer for the rest of us” advertising while Mac users claim
the same about Windows users. Who really cares?
The truth of the matter is that both are about the same. All they are different graphical user
interfaces (GUIs); slightly different ways of opening applications. Once the application is open,
the only differences might be whether you use a single button mouse or a multi-button mouse,
and even that difference vanishes with third party hardware.
First of all, we will look at some pros and cons for each, then we will dispel some myths perpetuated
about both platforms. We will also see how this plays into which might be better suited for Web
design.
Remember, also, that both Microsoft and Apple share a good deal of technology. Both Windows
and MacOS use hundreds of patents shared between the two. Also remember that Microsoft
makes a lot of software for the Mac including Microsoft Office which was created by a separate
department for the Mac.
typography: Mac’s support of typography is a result of years and year’s involvement with the
pre-press industry. Type-styles rendered with a Mac just plain transfer better when submitted
to a service bureau. You get what you saw.

video subsystem: Windows open architecture and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus
allows a wide non-saturated video subsystem. Video cards are made which exceed 6 Gigaflops
of geometric rendering. Mac, though PCI, has a severely bottle-necked video subsystem so if you
are into advanced 3D rendering, Windows is the clear winner here.
postscript support: Mac natively supports both postscript and PDF formats making them the
clear winning here. Again, if you are into pre-press, Mac makes a lot of sense.

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