Table of Contents
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CHAPTER
TWO:
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
This
chapler brjelly
explains how your Pod{olio works and
uses memory
slorage
space, and how
1o
use
memoty
cards.
HOW YOUR PORTFOLIO WORKS
A
compuler
processes tnslruclions
to
perlorm
a
task
These
rnslructons
are called
programs.
Two examples
ol
programs
are lhe operating
syslem inside your
compuier,
and a dro-
gram
on
a
program
card. Your
compuler
feceives
lhese
programs
as
eleclronic
slonals
lo
be processed
anct/or
slored.
The processing and sloring
ol
data raets
ol eiectronjc
signals
grouped
togelhe,
is
handled
by
a
system
ol electronic
ciompo-
nents
and
integraled
circuits.
Your Po.liolio computer
uses
lhe
same
fundamenlal
language
all
olher compulers
use
and rhal is st.nple brnary arrthmetic
Bul. lhanklully. lhe Portlolio
doesn'r spdah to you
rn
btnary
code
ll
underslands
spectal commands called DOS
com-
mands
thal
enable you
to
communicaie
with
ihe compuler.
But you don't
have
to learn DOS
10
communicale
with
your
Portfolio.
The File Manager
program
acts
as
your
pers6nal
inlerpreler, lranslaling
DOS
commands
inlo
lamiliar
words
and
phrases
and
presenling information
in
the
iorm
of
simple
windows and menus. Using the File Manager makes il
possible
lor
you
lo
begin using your
Porllolio
right away.
inslead ol
having
lo lirsl
learn
a
new
and
uniamjliar
lariguage.
MEMOFIY
You
compuler
uses lwo
lypes
of
memory:
inlernal
memory,
and
exlernal memory. lniernal
memory
is
tnlormalion slorage
Iocalions on microchrps
rnsrde
your
compuler.
Exlernal
mem-
ory
is
informalion slotage localions
on memory cards.
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