There are several categories of computers based on their size and computational power: supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers. Supercomputers are the largest, fastest and most powerful, used for tasks like weather analysis and scientific research. Mainframe computers are very large with high processing speeds and storage capacity, used by large organizations. Minicomputers were popular in the 1960s with capabilities between PCs and mainframes. Microcomputers, also known as personal computers, are the most common and range in power from workstations to palmtops/PDAs.
There are several categories of computers based on their size and computational power: supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers. Supercomputers are the largest, fastest and most powerful, used for tasks like weather analysis and scientific research. Mainframe computers are very large with high processing speeds and storage capacity, used by large organizations. Minicomputers were popular in the 1960s with capabilities between PCs and mainframes. Microcomputers, also known as personal computers, are the most common and range in power from workstations to palmtops/PDAs.
There are several categories of computers based on their size and computational power: supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers. Supercomputers are the largest, fastest and most powerful, used for tasks like weather analysis and scientific research. Mainframe computers are very large with high processing speeds and storage capacity, used by large organizations. Minicomputers were popular in the 1960s with capabilities between PCs and mainframes. Microcomputers, also known as personal computers, are the most common and range in power from workstations to palmtops/PDAs.
There are several categories of computers based on their size and computational power: supercomputers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers. Supercomputers are the largest, fastest and most powerful, used for tasks like weather analysis and scientific research. Mainframe computers are very large with high processing speeds and storage capacity, used by large organizations. Minicomputers were popular in the 1960s with capabilities between PCs and mainframes. Microcomputers, also known as personal computers, are the most common and range in power from workstations to palmtops/PDAs.
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CATEGORIES OF COMPUTERS
Computers come in many shapes and sizes, and varying computational power. Size deals with how big they are and power deals with its speed of operation. The two commonly go together. Based on to these criteria, most computers can be classified into one of the major types: microcomputers (personal computers), minicomputers, mainframe computers and supercomputers.
SUPER COMPUTERS The mightiest computers. They are the largest, fastest and most powerful computers at present- - and, of course, the most expensive, often costing millions. They are designed for ultra high performance tasks such as weather analysis, encryption cracking, and creation of animation, scientific research and development areas such as energy, medicine, space exploration and industry. They are essentially large, expensive, massively parallel-processing machines usually owned by government agencies or large corporations. Examples of supercomputers are IBM’s Deep blue and silicon Graphics Gray Line.
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS (OR SIMPLY MAINFRAMES)
Mainframe computers are very large computers, which are capable of processing data at very high speeds- millions of instructions per second, and have access to billions of characters of data, that is, greater storage capacity. A key characteristic of large computers is that they are designed for multiple users (more users at a time). Applications that require high performance and/or generate and process large numbers of transactions are generally hosted on mainframes. They are found in large organisations such as banks, insurance companies and corporations. The most popular manufacturer of mainframes is IBM.
MINICOMPUTERS (OR SIMPLY MINIS)
This type of computer is usually designed for real-time applications, or as high-performance, multiple user applications. These computers are rarely used today and were very popular in the 1960s. Their cost, storage and processing capabilities are between those of a PC and main frame. They were mainly used in small manufacturing plants, research labs and businesses. They were usually designed to handle simultaneously the processing needs of multiple users. They allow many users to share access to hardware through stations called terminals. Current common uses of minis include hosting websites, and as gateways for wide area computer communication networks.
MICROCOMPUTER Microcomputers (simply called micros), also known as personal computers (PCs) is the most common form of computers. Today’s PCs are commonly, single processor, single user systems that can perform simple tasks such as word processing or spreadsheet calculations, or demanding task such as rendering graphics. Of other types of computers, PCs are the smallest and least powerful. PCs can be classified further based on size and power/capability into: workstation, desktop, laptop, notebook and palmtop.
Workstation Most powerful and expensive PC used for demanding work such as computer aided engineering, graphics animation, etc. Specialised workers such as engineers, financial traders, and graphic designers use them. Workstations are small enough to fit on a desk but approach the power of mini or main frame. Desktop These are PCs that can sit on a standard desktop, hence the name desktop computer.
Laptops These are portable computers equipped with a flat display screen and weighing about 1 to 4 kilograms. The two principal types of laptops are notebooks and sub-notebooks.
Notebook This is a portable computer that is roughly the size of a thick notebook, perhaps 35 by 20 centimetres. They have fairly a large keyboard, usually with a small touch-sensitive pad which serves as a mouse. They can be easily tucked in to briefcase or simply under your arm and can use power from an electrical outlet or rechargeable batteries. Notebook computers are usually as powerful as desktop but cost more than an equivalent desktop PC.
Sub-notebook computer This type of computer weighs about a kilogram and can fit in a large pocket. They have a small screen, and a small keyboard without the mouse function. They can perform the same functions of notebooks, but not to the same degree of complexity.
ELECTRONIC ORGANISERS AND PALMTOPS
Palmtops, also known as personal digital assistant (PDA) are smaller (about the side of human hand) handheld and less powerful than notebooks and subnotebooks. They can fit into a shirt pocket and weigh perhaps 300 grams on average. They used to keep track of appointment, and other business information. They have a number of capabilities including email and fax capabilities. They can also do word processing, spreadsheet calculations, game playing.e.t.c.
