This comprehensive textbook explains the function and design architecture of the various pieces of hardware that make up a digital computer system. Intended as counterpart for a one or two semester computer hardware and architecture class for computer science rather than computer engineering students, it looks at the functions of a modern digital computer as a whole. Starting with the most basic concepts and building on them, the authors, both computer science professors, show how these hardware components work together as well as with software to perform the tasks and processes required of modern digital computers. The fourth edition is in direct correlation with ACM/IEEE CS2013 guidelines for computer organization and architecture and also contains the latest information on tablet computers, cloud computing, and includes a simulator package on CD-ROM to supplement the text. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)