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Journalist 1 & C - Advanced manual for Journalism and other reporting practices
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separate  devices  so  you  can  place  them  wherever  it  is convenient (even in your lap). You will be most concerned with the types of keys on the keyboard and the function and placement of each. All keyboards have the alphabetic characters (upper and lower case), numbers and some special characters. In addition,  keyboards  have  special  function  and  control keys that are defined by the operating system or the program. MAGNETIC  DISKS The two forms of magnetic disks typically used with microcomputers are the diskette and the hard disk. Magnetic disks, regardless of their type or size, are without a doubt the most important secondary storage medium  used  with  microcomputers.  Disks  provide  fast retrieval of information. The physical characteristics of the disk–flat and round–allow the disk drive direct access to data. Simply stated, the processing unit goes directly to a designated disk drive, seeks the specific location  on  the  disk  where  the  data  is  stored  and immediately  retrieves  it.  The  disk  drive  does  NOT  have to read through a series of records before reaching the one  desired,  as  with  magnetic  tape  units. Diskette A diskette is also referred to as a floppy disk, or just plain  floppy,  because  it  is  a  round,  flexible  platter.  At present,  diskettes  come  in  three  sizes  (diameters)– 8 inches, 5 1/4 (5.25) inches and 3 1/2 (3.50) inches (fig.  1-21).  The  8-inch  variety  is  seldom  used  with microcomputers these days, but the 5 1/4 and 3 1/2-inch formats are common. The diskette is the media used to either store your data or to back up data on your hard drive. The notch on the side of the 5 1/4-inch diskette is the write protect feature. Placing a label provided with Figure 1-21.—Floppy disks/diskettes used on microcomputers. the diskette over the notch can protect the data on a disk. On 3 1/2-inch diskettes, the write protect feature is in the form of a moveable tab at the bottom right side. Sliding  this  tab  down  will  activate  this  feature. Care of your diskettes is important because even the slightest bit of damage can cause a loss of your data. The following  is  a  list  of  rules  for  taking  care  of  your diskettes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Do not bend or fold the diskette. The diskette drive  only  accepts  a  diskette  that  is  absolutely flat. Do not touch the exposed areas of the diskette. Store all diskettes in their jackets to protect them from dust and dirt. Diskettes  are  sensitive  to  pressure.  When  you label them, use a soft felt-tip marker to write on the label. Do not use a pen or pencil, as these can cause  damage  to  the  diskette  and  to  the  infor- mation  contained  on  it.  Do  not  put  paper  clips on the diskette. Do not stack labels one on top of the other on a diskette. It may cause problems when you insert the diskette into the drive. Do not leave your diskette on or near anything that  generates  a  magnetic  field,  or  a  loss  or scrambling of data will result. This includes magnets of any kind, such as those found in telephones,  stereo  speakers  and  paper  clip dispensers,  as  well  as  magnets  on  copyholders and inside printers. Also avoid motors, such as those  found  in  portable  fans  and  floor  buffers/ polishers. Keep diskettes away from extreme heat, cold and humidity, or they may warp. Diskettes are designed to withstand temperatures from 50 to 125  degrees  Fahrenheit  (10  to  52  degrees Celsius), and a relative humidity of eight to 80 percent. Temperatures and humidities in which you are comfortable will also be comfortable for diskettes. Hard Disk Although most microcomputer systems you will be working on use some type of floppy disk drive, you should  also  be  aware  that  many  microcomputers  also contain a small sealed unit called a Winchester disk or hard disk drive (fig. 1-22). Unless the hard disk drive is an external type unit, you might never know it was there. 1-52







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