Chapter 9

Multimedia Hardware

Mac vs. PC

Overview

• Macintosh versus Windows platform.• Networking Macintosh and Windows

computers.• Connections.• Memory.• Storage devices.• Input and output devices.• Communication devices.

Which Platform Mac or PC?

• Select platform based on– Personal preference– Budget constraints– Project delivery requirements– Type and content of project materials– Availability to target audience

Mac versus Windows

The Macintosh platform:– Was launched by Apple in 1984.– Has a good built-in audio and high-

quality graphics capability.– Includes hardware and software for

digitizing and editing video and producing DVD discs.

– Makes multimedia project development easier and smoother.

Mac versus Windows

The Windows platform:– Is a collection of different vendor-neutral

components that are tied together by the requirements of the Windows operating system.

– Initially focused on business computing and was not suitable for multimedia. However, it is now easier to find multimedia hardware and software for Windows as compared to the Macintosh.

MAC vs. PC• Macintosh• Since 1984 has

been multimedia• Good built-in

audio• Easy to learn GUI

PC• Intended for

business• System beeps and

tiny, tinny speaker• DOS screen-

command driven• Since late 1980’s

provides multimedia capabilities

Macintosh Platform

• All Macs can play sound– Latest include hardware for digitizing

sound

• 8/16/24 bit graphics available

• Can digitize both sound and video

• Requires a mouse

Macintosh Platform

• Power Mac• Higher performance than existing Pentium

based windows machines

Windows Multimedia PCs

• MPC Standard- manufacturers guarantee that software written to

the MPC standard (labeled MPC compliant) will play on their machines.

• Three levels of minimum requirements: MPC1, MPC2, MPC3

Windows Multimedia PCs

• 1990- Level 1 ( MPC1)– 16 MHz, 386SX, 2MB RAM, 30 MB drive– CD-ROM, VGA video ( 16 colors)– 8 bit audio board, speakers/headphones– MS Windows with Multimedia Extensions

package• Not powerful enough to develop Multimedia• Hardly powerful enough to play it

Windows Multimedia PCs

• 1993- Level 2 ( MPC2)– 25 MHz, 486SX, 4MB RAM, 160 MB drive– 2xCD-ROM, VGA/SVGA video – 16 bit audio board,

speakers/headphones, microphone

Windows Multimedia PCs

• 1995- Level 3 (MPC3)– 75 MHz, Pentium, 8 MB RAM, 540 MB

drive– 4xCD- ROM, MPG support– MPEG1 video playback– Full motion video ( in small window)

with TV quality– CD quality sound

Networking• LANs- local area

networks• Located within short

distances ( such as a campus, or building)

• Allow sharing of resources such as printers

• Ethernet for cross-platform development

• WANs- wide area networks

• Used for long distances

• More expensive to install and maintain

• ISPs like AOL, MSN make it available and affordable

Networking Mac and Windows

• Networking is essential for direct communication and sharing of resources across platforms.

• Local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet connections provide connectivity and networking capabilities.

Networking

• In a LAN, workstations are located within a short distance. They are relatively less expensive.

• In a WAN, communication systems span great distances and are typically set up and managed by large corporations. They are expensive to install and maintain.

• A dial-up connection to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) also enables communication.

Networking

• To establish communication between a Macintosh and Windows PC, install Ethernet system and client-server software.

• Ethernet is a method of wiring up computers.

• Client/server software is required for communication and transfer of files.

• Macintosh computers have built-in Ethernet networking, while Windows PCs require an additional Ethernet card.

Networking

• MACs• Have ethernet built

in• Usually run

Appletalk• Need DAVE to

communicate with PC

• PCs• Need ethernet

cards • Usually run TCP/IP

• Need MACLAN to communicate with MAC

Client/server software enables computers to communicate through an ISP

Memory

• Sufficient memory must be allocated for storing and archiving files.

• Memory requirements of a multimedia project depend on the project's content and scope.

• The two types of memory are random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM).

Memory and Storage Devices

• RAM• ROM• Floppy and Hard Disks• Zip, Jaz and Syquest

– Zip – 100MB– Jaz – 1 GB

• Optical Storage CD, CD-R, etc.)• DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) upto 1GB

– DVD-video– DVD-ROM

Input Devices• Keyboards• Mice and Trackballs• Touchscreens• Magnetic Card Encoders and Readers• Graphic Tablets• Scanners• Optical Code Recognition (OCR)Devices• Infrared remotes• Voice Recognition Systems• Digital Cameras• Lightpens

Output Hardware

• Audio Devices• Amplifiers and Speakers• Monitors• Video Devices• Projectors

• CRT – cathode ray tube• LCD – liquid crystal display

• Printers– Injet– laser

Summary

• Macintosh and Windows are the two most common hardware platforms used in multimedia.

• LANs, WANs, Ethernet, and client-server software facilitate communication and connectivity among computers.

• Storage devices include floppy disks, hard disks, Zip drives, Jaz drives, MO drives, DVDs, and CD-ROMs.

Summary• Input devices include keyboards, mice,

trackballs, touchscreens, graphic tablets, scanners, OCR (optical character recognition) devices, infrared remotes, voice recognition software, and digital cameras.

• Output devices include audio devices, speakers, amplifiers, monitors, video devices, projectors, and printers.

• Communication devices include modems, ISDN lines, and cable modems.