text/9/5
The computer has several timing
crystals which keep its thinking
organized. One is also used to keep
track of the time and date.  Many
computers also have a small
rechargeable battery and an IC chip
that keeps track of the time even
when the main power switch is
turned off.  This small part of the
computer is always awake.


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text/9/96
   The timing crystal puts out an
electronic tick, tick, tick at a
very high rate of speed. The timing
chip adds these ticks to the time
and date.  The battery keeps this
going. Whenever the computer is
turned on, the battery is recharged.


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text/345/6
   The computer loads a program
from a disk into the RAM.  Hard
disk usually spin at 3600
revolutions per minute and
floppies run at 300 RPM. The
hard disk can hold more
information than a floppy, but
their principal of operation is
the same. 

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text/345/88
    The surfaces of a disk are
coated or plated with a magnetic
metal.  A small recording head
is placed very near each
surface. The head can be moved
in and out along the radius of
the disk, so that it can read or
write along any of many tracks,
called cylinders.

~