Computer Lover - Learn About Computers

Welcome to This website is a completely free resource covering many aspects of computers, ranging from Desktop Computers and Laptops to Software Programs and Hardware (and more!). This website has articles and resources for all computer users; whether you are a beginner or a professional, whether you use your computer for general use or gaming, whether you use desktops or laptops (or anything else), you will find something for you on this website. Below are quick explanations of the four main categories on

A desktop computer. From iStockPhoto; used with full rights.

Desktop Computers are - as the name suggests - computers that are usually put on a desk/single location (i.e. they aren't designed to be portable). They tend to have multiple parts - there is a case which house's the various computer's hardware and then there's (at least) a monitor, speakers, mouse and keyboard which all plug-in to the case. They are also commonly referred to as 'desktops' or sometimes simply as the slightly ambiguous 'computers'.

A laptop computer. From iStockPhoto; used with full rights.

Laptop Computers are smaller than desktops, as they are designed with portability in mind. They were originally designed to be usable on someone's lap (although due to large heat output this is typically discouraged). Laptops combine the various parts of a desktop (a monitor, keyboard, mouse/pointing device and speakers) into one device. Since they are designed to be portable, laptops can be run off of a battery or mains electricity.

A piece of hardware. Image in Public Domain.

Hardware ('Computer Parts') refers to the various electrical components which power a computer. For example - roughly speaking - a hard-drive stores data, a CPU performs calculations, the RAM/memory stores temporary data and the motherboard houses these various components. This isn't a comprehensive list of computer hardware parts though; a typical computer (desktop, laptop or similar device) might have ten or more hardware components.

A piece of software. From iStockPhoto; used with full rights.

Software Programs are the programs which allow you to perform certain actions on a computer. For example, digital photo editing software allows you to manipulate photos in particular ways (e.g. color correction, red eye removal, and more). On a more general level, another type of software is the operating system (Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux etc). An operating system manages all aspects of the computer - it manages the hardware, the way a user interacts with a computer, the other software which is installed on the computer, and more.

Gaming controllers. Image used with permission.

Online Gaming is a term commonly used to describe gaming that takes place over the internet. The advances of gaming over the past 5 years have made online gaming a great success. Players all over the globe can compete in first person shooters such as Call of Duty, role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, strategy games such as those played in an online casino, and many more. In order to operate at peak performance it is important to run the latest software and hardware on your PC or laptop. Be sure to read all our articles and online resources to be sure you're getting the best possible performance for your online games.

About Computer Lover opened in August 2010 to give information about all aspects of computers to its users. We are a free resource which over time aims to cover all topics surrounding computing, and this site is aimed at all types of users (from beginners to professionals!). We currently have four main categories (as detailed above), and we plan to add new categories on a range of other computer-related topics over the coming weeks and months. Hence please be sure to check back often. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Featured Article

Our most recent featured article is "How do computers work?", which is a technical look at how computers work, both from a hardware and software perspective.

Useful Sites

Please see our useful sites section for a list of websites which we feel our visitors might find useful.

A Brief History of the Evolution of Computers

The answer to the question "Who invented the first computer?" is unfortunately difficult to answer. This is because a computer - at its most basic definition - simply refers to a set of systems which help Humans to carry out a particular role. Technically one of the first 'computers' was the abacus which was a machine which helped Humans to count. The first ever abacus was invented in as early as 3,000 BC.

However despite this, many people - including us - count the first invention of the modern day computer to be the Z1 Computer by Konrad Zuse in 1936. This was the first programmable computer and as a result is classed by many as the first computer. Unfortunately the Z1's life was short as it was destroyed in World War II towards the end of 1943.

After this a series of computers were invented. The first consumer computers started appearing in the 1970s, for example the Commodore PET (released in 1977) was one of the most popular early consumer computers. These computers were still primitive and difficult to use though, hence in the 1980s Apple (and a couple of years later, Microsoft) produced computers which had graphical user interfaces which made using computers much easier and led to a relatively rapid rise in the popularity of computers. The rest, as they say, is history!

See the full 'history of computers' timeline.