Chapter Summary

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The following points summarize the key concepts in this chapter:

Networks

• The benefits provided by a network are connections, communications, and services.
• There are two types of networks: server networks and peer-to-peer networks.
• A network topology describes the physical layout of the network. There are three basic topologies: bus, star, and ring.
• In order to function on a network, each computer must have a network interface card (NIC) and a network operating system (NOS).
• The three types of network cabling are twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber-optic.

Portable Computers

• Early "portable" computers were heavy, and usually more worthy of the term "luggable."
• Today's laptops and notebooks have most of the features of a desktop machine in a very compact package—but at a much higher cost.
• A computer technician should know the four types of PCMCIA cards and their uses.
• Batteries and power management are key factors to consider when maintaining portable computers.