Who can come up with an easy explanation of RAM for Users?

Question

Dont worry im fully versed in what RAM is etc but would like to have a simple but clear way to describe to idiot users!

As adding RAM makes a helluva difference to existing computers but these damn lawyers want to know the ins and outs of everything but its hard to explain to them as they know nothing about computers.

Answer 1

Simply put, RAM is a temporary storage area for information. When lots of information needs to be processed all at the same time, the information queues inside a storage area until it is their turn to be processed.

Its the computer equivalent of a train station waiting area. Information be represented by people, they have to wait until it is their turn to catch the train....

...or if we're talking about lawyers, its the equivalent of their waiting room. The clients (information) come in through the front door to be seen (processed), but are told to wait in the waiting area (RAM) until it is their turn to have time with the Lawyer (processor).

lol. I can't dumb it down any more than that!! Hope that helps!

EDIT: Mr Lonely deserves the points just for getting a cow's rumen into the conversation!! lol! nice one!

Answer 2

Here is what I say;

RAM is the memory that whatever you are running loads into. When you don't have enough, the computer makes a file on the hard drive that it uses like RAM. The hard drive is much slower than RAM so it slows the whole system down. Adding RAM when you are short is very inexpensive and can save you a lot of time. (Since they are attorneys you might point out that at $250 an hour or so, they pay for RAM very quickly.)

If they press you about what uses RAM, say the usual things but highlight multiple programs. I work free-lance for a small firm and those guys all have about 10 things open all the time.

Answer 3

I don't think that things like demon possession and black magic are more logical explanations. It's that demon possession and black magic are no fault explanations. I hate to be harsh, but I see this all too often. There are just a lot of people who have no desire to take responsibility for their own problems and take the steps necessary to fix them or at least work towards helping themselves achieve a better position in life. A lot of people are also very gullible. If you can blame your problems on something mystical/magical then it's not your fault - your refusal to get a job and overspending isn't the cause of your impending bankruptcy, it's the nasty old woman next door. Your darling son's erratic and eruptive behavior isn't the result of mental illness and drug addiction, no it's demon possession. Trained clergy or some carefully placed symbols and candles and words spoken will cure everything. Someone else will fix this and pat you on the back while saying "it's not your fault". Personally, I think I'd be much more comfortable thinking I was suffering for a mental problem than a demon. But I really think it's more a matter of people being more comfortable with not having to take responsibility.

Answer 4

RAM is acronym for Random Access Memory. It is also called Main Memory in the Computer Lingo.

RAM or Main Memory is that module of any PC or computer which is responsible for storing programs which are being / to be executed by the Processor and also the data that these programs need.

Answer 5

To explain it to the lawyers to their own memory.
RAM is short term memory of computer which can be accessed at very fast speed, in case of lawyers there own memory is RAM where they can easily recall about there on-going cases. The files of there client is Hard Disk where alll the information about the client is stored. They read the information from file (Hard Disk) and store it in their memory(RAM) so that they can access the information while in court.

Answer 6

When I was obtaining my engineering degree, one of my computer science professors had a great analogy of the architecture of computers. He compared them to your office. Your bookshelves were your hard drive. The stuff that you might need to work on is stored there. Your desk was your RAM. When you actually had to work on something, you went to your bookshelf, grabbed what you needed, and put it on your desk. This analogy is much like what a computer does when bringing data into RAM. He had many more analogies relating to processors (a calculator on your desk), caches, EEPROM, etc. etc. But it always stuck with me as a great way to explain RAM. Adding more RAM is like buying a bigger desk. You can fit a lot more stuff onto it if you need to do a lot of work on different things.

Answer 7

Its:

A matrixed addressable volitile memory, often embedded into silicon chips,on single chip computers or in dedicated chips.

A place to store stuff while a computer is in use.

Its a little black thing.

How can you claim to be "fully versed" with RAM and yet not know how to explain it. Me thinks you are just too embaressed to admit it.

How simple are the users ?

If they really are idiots why do they need to know ?

Nice to see another techie has thier customer focus just right

Answer 8

RAM adds more memory to your computer - with more memory - you can do more things at the same time - like open up and more software programs, or do things that use up lots of memory - like video games. Video games use a lot of memory (RAM) and will run slowly if there is not enough.

Answer 9

ask them: "DO YOU KNOW COWS???". They tear, chew grasses briefly and then swallow into a special stomach which we call a rumen. Later on when they have time, little by little, they will burp up, chew seriously then swallow again.
In this case, the rumen could be called a RAM! If a cow has a bigger RAM, it can store more grasses (information) and easier, faster to “access” than running in to the field at night looking for food.

Answer 10

Just say somthing like..." RAM is a device in the computer where it stores information so that it can be accessed quicker than from reading it off of a hard drive."