What is the difference between a computer and a typewriter?

Answer 1

• A computer on its own cannot print: it requires an external device to print
• A computer printer is useless without a computer to drive it, but a typewriter is self-contained
• While modern typewriters are electric, the majority of typewriters for decades were manual - no electricity required. A computer cannot function with electricity of some description (including batteries)
• A typewriter creates the letters by pressing ink through a ribbon
• The computer is well known, whereas a typewriter has never been seen by some of the younger generation
• Some forms of modern typewriter can "erase" mistakes: no printer has this function because it can all be controlled through the computer

Expanded answerAll of the above. A typewriter is completely autonomous in that anyone can use it without having to know anything about menus and settings and preferences, and without needing any kind of experience or knowledge of specific programs. It is a machine in the true sense of the word... a MECHANICAL device requiring certain effort or imput on the part of the operator, in order to perform its function.

A computer on the other hand is NOT mechanical, it is electronic; a series of electrical impulses transmitted through various microchips and P.S.Bs replaces the typeface-to-key-linkages of the typewriter. A "false" visual interpretation (the screen) replaces the more traditional direct-to-paper approach, and for this reason makes pre-print editing possible without the production of one or more draft copies.

A computer is also capable of making calculations and some decisions WITHOUT the direct imput or effort of the operator, in fact, some computers do not require operators at all, only maintenance personel. (they have not learned to fix themselves yet, thankfully!) No matter how advanced a typewriter is, it can never be capable of making any kind of calculation other than those required to produce a visual representation of letters on an LCD display (if you have a REALLY fancy electric one!)

If you could connect a computer keyboard directly to a printer you would have an electric typewriter. This became the rich-mans typewriter, or poor-mans computer some years ago, but is now primarily used in secretarial work and notation / short hand.

A typewriter cannot be programmed to act in a certain fashion and without specific input from the operator

You cannot play games on a typewriter

You cannot access the internet or send email with a typewriter, neither can it be connected to a telephone line (A TELEX machine, however can be)

A typewriter cannot form its own logical deductions based on input from the operator, and requires every decision to be made for it.

A typewriter cannot correct obvious errors without input from the operator. It does not recognise when an error has been made and presumes every action is deliberate.

A typewriter is not multi-functional as a computer. Typewriters are only used to type up things neatly onto a sheet of paper, but a computer can be used for Surfing the web, learning, communicating and entertainment.

A typewriter is not multi-functional as a computer. Typewriters are only used to type up things neatly onto a sheet of paper, but a computer can be used for surfing the web, learning, communicating and entertainment.

Computer is well known, whereas typewriter has never been seen by some of the younger generation.

If you are writing on a computer, you can change fonts, spell check, move your words and paragraphs around easily, and switch between multiple documents. On a typewriter, the font is what it is. You spell check by using a dictionary. If you make an error or change your mind, you have to start over. Only one document can be in a typewriter at a time.

Answer 2

Tabular form

Answer 3

Typewriters have a ribbon and carriage holding a roller, all within a case; the front /bottom of the case holds the keyboard. As you type on a typewriter, the carriage and ribbon move from left to right. When the typist finishes the last letter or punctuation on a line, he/she uses his/her right hand to push the carriage back all the way to the left. This action was repeated at the end of every line for manual typewriters. Corrections were made with correcting paper. Later, correction fluid was created.

Electric Typewriters enclosed the ribbon and correction ribbon in its own cartridge- kind of box. The cartridge and roller did not "move"; only the ribbon advanced. So there was no need to push a cartridge back. When the type became too light, the typist removed the ribbon cartridge and inserted a new one. The correcting ribbon was encased either separate from the typing ribbon or within the same case as the typing ribbon.

On computers, you need hundreds-to-thousands of dollars in software -- for the Operating System, MS Word / Office, etc. In comparison, a good typewriter used to cost about $100 dollars. On computers, what you type sits in RAM (Random Access Memory) after you do the first "Save As". Before it is saved, what you type is only temporarily shown on your monitor; if you do not save it, then what you type simply disappears. On computers, there is no "cartridge" that advances sideways and no need to push it to the left. Instead, keystrokes that are *saved* on a computer enter a format that looks like an endless line of test that extends far beyond (to the right) the right side of the monitor. Formatting such as bold, italics, and even paragraph markings are recorded with code that tells a computer's program how to display the text. (With typewriters, there was no code. If you wanted, as an example, 3 spaces between paragraphs, you just hit the carriage return 3 times. It was more a physical media.)

As far as keyboards between a typewriter and computer, most of the keyboards for both are the standard typewriter keyboard. "Return" on a typewriter became "Enter" on a Computer. Typewriters did not have the F1 to F12 keys (Function keys on a computer). Typewriters had the Number-Character Keys along the top. "Shift" which you held down to make ALL CAPS, and I believe it had a Shift Lock (?). Margins were set manually on a typewriter, so keys like TAB work the same between keyboards. Typewriters have no Insert (Ins), Delete (Del), Pause/break, Fn (Function Key) or an ALT or Crtl (Control) key. Typewriters have a Backspace Key, just like computers have. The HOME, PgUp, PgDn, End, and the arrow keys are specific to computers and are not on typewriter keyboards.

Answer 4

Write the similarities between computer keyboarding and typewriter keyboarding

Answer 5

Computer keyboard controls different computer programs whereas typewriter keyboard controls only writing.

Answer 6

a type writter only types papers, letters, ect. and you can't fix mistakes on a typewritter

on a computer you can fix mistakes, go on the internet, and ect.

:P :D

Answer 7

Keyboards plug into a computer, and typewriters press the key you just entered onto a physical page.

Answer 8

The difference is that the keyboard is connected to the computer (or laptop) and the typewriter isn't.

Answer 9

Computers process information, typewriters simply transcribe words onto paper.

Answer 10

A computer keyboard has additional keys. The row of Function keys above the line of numeric keys is extra, as are the cursor keys, and 'special' keys such as Home & END.