A Full House of Cards The key to any computer’s hardware success is expandability. The old Apple computer triumphed over its peers in the late 1970s because the Apple II could be expanded; inside the computer’s case was a row of expansion slots. Into those slots, users could plug expansion cards, which greatly increased the computer’s abilities. The first IBM PC also had expansion slots, which helped ensure its success. And though the early Macs lacked expansion slots, pressure from users eventually won Apple over, andthe G4 line now sports expansion slots for power users who want them (though the iMac doesn’t have expansion slots). Why you may need expansion slots Expansion slots allow you to add new options or features to those that come with a standard computer. The slots aren’t as necessary as they were in the past; the early IBM PCs lacked such luxurious features as a video adapter, serial ports, or even extra memory. All that could be added by plugging in the proper expansion cards. Computers now often come with everything you need. For example, the iMac has an internal modem, network adapter, and room for more memory. Any further expansion can be added via the USB or Firewire ports. But some power users may want more than that, so other computers come with expansion slots.
