Western Governors University (WGU) ITEC2002 D322 Introduction to IT Practice Exam

The major disadvantage of first generation computers was their significant power consumption and the excessive heat they generated. First generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, which were not only inefficient but also required substantial amounts of power to operate. This high energy requirement led to overheating issues, necessitating elaborate cooling systems and further complicating their use and maintenance.

In contrast, the other options present characteristics that do not accurately reflect the limitations of first generation computers. They were not small or easy to program; in fact, they were large and programming them required knowledge of machine language, making them quite complex. Additionally, they did not employ advanced high-level programming languages, as those did not emerge until later generations of computers. Lastly, it is inaccurate to say they lacked any form of memory; while their memory was primitive by modern standards, they did have some memory capabilities through magnetic drums or core memory.