There are many types of computer ports that allow connectivity for a variety of devices.
For novice users, a quick peek at the backside of your computer reveals a great number of odd shapes, all with different colors and sizes. Rather than be intimidated by this technological wonderland of inputs and outputs, users should embrace their computer ports for what they can offer in terms of connectivity. Though it may be overwhelming at first, computer port types can be easily categorized by their purposes.
Network
Network ports connect computers to the Internet or local intranet. Ethernet ports are the norm and can have different speeds: 10BaseT, 100BaseT or 1 gigabit. Modem or RJ11 ports allow telephone lines to be jacked into the computer.
Input
There are several input ports on a computer, including those used for input devices. The PS/2 ports connect a mouse and keyboard, while the game port connects game controllers. Parallel and serial ports connect older printers and PDA devices. Most current input devices use the USB port, of which there are usually several available on a modern computer. Firewire ports connect high-speed devices, including DV cameras and Firewire hard drives. Another high-speed hard drive connector is the eSATA port.
Audio
Several different audio ports may be on a computer, including speaker output ports. These are usually color-coded to assist in setup. A mic input port allows you to connect a microphone to the computer.
Video
There are a variety of video ports that computers may have. VGA, DVI and HDMI are the usual video output ports available, though some computers may have S-Video ports designed to connect to a television monitor. A cable input port, such as those on a TV tuner card, can also be available on a computer.
Other
The power port is standard on all computers, and size of the input plugs will vary between netbooks, laptops and desktop computers. Laptops may have a PCMCIA or Cardbus port that allows a user to connect a network card, disk drive or flash card adapter.
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