ABSTRACT
Have you ever taken a new computer out of its shipping carton and tried to hook it up? If so, you likely found that the computer manufacturer had organized and connected the various components inside the computer’s cabinetry. Your responsibility was to connect wires and cables to electric power, printers and other devices, and perhaps the Internet. At that moment, you likely learned that a modern computer typically contains many types of built-in plug sockets, and that plugs and cables come in an assortment of sizes and shapes. A quick walk around your favorite computer store would further demonstrate that today’s market contains hundreds of devices that could connect to computers. •e wide variety can seem quite confusing-so why are there so many choices, and what are the di¡erences between one type of plug or cable and another? •is chapter addresses many of those questions, including the basics of how computers are connected, what the most common types of cables look like, and how wireless communications work. In addition to some practical mechanics, we will explore the ideas behind how computers are connected.
