Unit - 1

Multimedia HardwareMac vs. PC

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Overview

Macintosh versus Windows platform. Networking Macintosh and Windows

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 multimediacapabilities

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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

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Macintosh Platform Power Mac

1994 (RISC) – reduced instruction set computing ( IBM/Motorola)

1997 G3 series – clock speeds > 233MHz Higher performance than existing Pentium

based windows machines 2003 G4 series – clock speeds > GHz

Dual processor Performance 20 times better than G3

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Connections

SCSI ( “scuzzy”) – Small Computer System Interface – lets you add peripherals ( up to 8) ID 0 – internal hard disk Id 7 – computer Ultra SCSI – 32 devices In built in MAC – Mac can read PC formatted

devices Can be installed in PC – PC can not read Mac

formatted devices SCSI I data transfer rate – 5 MB per sec SCSI 2 – Fast SCSI – 10 MB per sec , Wide

SCSI – 16 bit width – Fast/Wide SCSI – 20 MB per se

SCSI 3 – 32 devices – 40 MB per sec

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Connections

IDE-Integrated Drive Electronics- connect internal devices PC support 2 IDE – Each IDE supports two devices Circuit less expensive Only 9GB drive capacity , Only one drive to be

active , Requires main processor time , Failure in one results in disabling both.

Plain IDE data transfer rate– 2.5 MB per se EIDE (Enhanced) – 16.6 MB per se Ultra IDE – 33 MB per se

USB- universal serial bus- “plug and play” Firewire (IEEE 1394)- supports high bandwidth

serial data transfer among multiple computers

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Connections

Media Control Interface (MCI) Unified command driven method for software

to communicate with the peripheral devices In windows any hardware device can be

connected with MCI Drivers from the manufacturer Device type – animation, videodisc, vcr,

scanner etc Scripting languages – VB, Icon Author etc Simple commands – open , close, pause,

record, resume etc System.ini file (multimedia devices and

drivers)

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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).

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Memory and Storage Devices RAM - How much – Based on software –

Photoshop 16 MB min , 20 MB recommended ROM – EPROM – OROM (128 MB) – BIOS 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

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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

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Output Hardware Audio Devices Amplifiers and Speakers Monitors Video Devices Projectors

CRT – cathode ray tube LCD – liquid crystal display

Printers Injet laser

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Communication Devices

Modems ( Hayes Compatible) v.90 ISDN – Integrated Services Digital

Network DSL-Digital Subscriber Line Cable Modems

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Modems

Modems modulate and de-modulate analog signals.

They provide connectivity through standard phone lines.

Modems can be internal or external. Modem speed is measured in baud,

and the standard modem speed should be at least 56 Kbps.

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ISDN ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital

Network. It is used for higher transmission speeds by

telephone. They transfer data at the rate of 128 Kbps. ISDN lines are used for networking, Internet

access, and audio-video conferencing. They are more expensive than the

conventional analog lines.

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Cable Modems

They provide Internet access at speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than a telephone modem, over the same cable network that supplies the television signal.

However, due to noise in the system, sending rates may be much slower than receiving rates.

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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.

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Summary

Input devices include keyboards, mice, trackballs, touchscreens, graphic tablets, scanners, OCR 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.