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Necessary Computer Peripherals

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The Most Necessary Computer Peripherals

Last updated on April 2, 2020 UTC
Avatar of Rajesh Namase Written by Rajesh Namase

Computers have revolutionized our lives, becoming an irreplaceable part of our life. From shopping, games to work, you can do almost anything with this one machine. A computer is made up of a combination of various different parts which can extract a different type of functionality from the computer software. One major part associated with computers is that of peripherals. Peripherals are optional devices attached to the computer to enhance its capabilities, which include storage devices, input devices, communication devices as well as output devices. Some peripherals are life and blood of a computer, and I’ll talk about them in this article.

Each peripheral should be able to access the communication channel on the motherboard which connects the processor, RAM, and other components. For this purpose, they have a port by means of which they are connected to the computer. Computers have ports too to allow peripherals to be connected to them. Your computer can do without peripherals, but with some amazing peripherals, it can do great! The peripheral devices that your computer must absolutely have include:

  • The Keyboard
  • The Mouse
  • External Hard Drive
  • Printer

The Keyboard

Without the keyboard, it would not have been possible for you to communicate with the computer to do what you require. The keyboard has an arrangement of keys, with letters, numbers, and signs for you to type. There are several features and functions that are activated by pressing several keys simultaneously, such as pressing CTRL and C at the same time will copy your data and CTRL and V at the same time will paste it.

The Mouse

The mouse detects two-dimensional physical motion which translates into the motion of the cursor/pointer on the computer display. Mice have two buttons, one for left click and one for right-click. Additionally, they also have touch surfaces and wheels for extra control. A mouse makes it far easier to handle the controls of the computer, and with the new wireless and Bluetooth mouse models, the control is even more precise and clutter-free. The optical and laser mice used today are lightweight and extraordinary when it comes to function. Sure there are touchpads available that can substitute for the mouse, but their smooth and versatile functioning cannot be replaced, which is why so many people today are using the mouse even with their laptops.

See also
25 Computer Maintenance Checklist to Keep Your Computer Safe

External Hard Drive

All modern computers and laptops today come with a good amount of stored data, and though it may seem like you would not need any extra storage space, you are wrong. With movies, sitcoms to games, you have several media files that you would like to store, and you do not realize when ten movies turn to a hundred and you are left with zero space for anything else.

Another very important purpose of owning a hard drive is data back-up. You never know when a virus or technical glitch will cause your computer to crash, leading to a loss of valuable data. Storing all your data on an external drive will ensure your data remains safe if tragedy strikes.

An external hard drive or a hard disk drive is a data storage device which stores and retrieves digital data. It can retain its data even when powered off. They have come a long way from their creation in 1956. Today’s models have a large amount of storage space ranging from 500 GB to as much as 3 TB. You can buy an external hard disk of a size depending upon your requirements. Ideally, I would recommend that you should have at least one for backup purposes.

Printer

Most people shy away from a printer due to cartridge costs, but that is perhaps one of the biggest myths associated with printers. Sure, you can get all your printouts at the nearest stationery shop, but owning a printer gives you the flexibility to work and print documents according to your convenience. Whether it is that last minute presentation document or sudden project submission, printers will be your one true friend.

Buying a printer requires as much planning and thought of buying a new phone. You should buy a printer according to your requirements. The two main types of printers are:

  • Inkjet Printer
  • Laser Printer

Of these inkjet printers are much more common and suitable for individual and small office use. They are inexpensive and give out high quality prints. The main component of an inkjet printer is the ink cartridges. They come in different color combinations for your convenience, so you can select as per the type of printing you will need to do.

See also
11 Printer Tips and Tricks

A common misconception is that ink cartridges greatly increase the cost of owning printers. Ink cartridges are expensive, sure, but if you can recycle and reuse them, you can save a ton of money! Many manufacturing companies offer recycling accounts wherein you can sell your old cartridges and get discounts on future purchases. You can also opt for refilling, which involves filling the ink in the cartridge by means of a refill kit. Buying ink cartridges in bulk is also a very cheap option helping you make great savings.

I Hope, these cool tips will help you a lot in saving a few bucks.

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Avatar of Rajesh Namase

Rajesh Namase

Rajesh Namase is an entrepreneur from Pune, India, and the founder of TechLila, where he writes about technology, SEO and the tools he builds. He started blogging in September 2010 on Namase.com, the blog TechLila grew out of, and is counted among India's pioneering tech bloggers. He is also the co-founder and CEO of WebGeeksMedia. Away from work, it's badminton and yoga.

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  • Computer

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Computer Tips

Reader Interactions

What people are saying

  1. Harish

    This article has given a very useful info about computers. Because nowadays people use computers in every walk of life like from children playing games to elders using to work at home. So, this info would be useful to any age cycle whether they are techies or non-techies.

    Reply
    • Volker

      I agree, great article. I just want to add one thing. Nowadays a computer mouse doesn’t have to work only 2 dimensional. This here for example is a wireless 3D finger mouse:
      http://www.indexmouse.com
      It works just by pointing with your index finger. I definitely need one.

      Reply
  2. sourav Kumar Behura

    Thank you Vedant kumar for such a nice article..
    you can also add more things like a headphone with mic,webcam in my point of view but they are not most essential…

    Reply
  3. Samir

    Well according to me keyboard and mouse are most important things which should be of good brand and also good for usability.

    Thanks

    Reply
  4. Cleveland

    I know how to use computers and also know about many different hardware brands and software as well.

    The article is great for someone who would like to have their own home office. It lets you know what you would need in order to get it up & running.

    Reply

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