CLASSIFICATION OF

COMPUTERS
Classification of Computers

Types of Computers
1. Analog Computers

Analog computers are used to process continuous data. Analog

computers represent variables by physical quantities. Thus any
computer which solve problem by translating physical conditions such
as flow, temperature, pressure, angular position or voltage into related
mechanical or electrical related circuits as an analog for the physical
phenomenon being investigated in general it is a computer which uses
an analog quantity and produces analog values as output. Thus an
analog computer measures continuously. Analog computers are very
much speedy. They produce their results very fast. But their results are
approximately correct. All the analog computers are special purpose
computers.
2. Digital Computers

Digital computer represents physical quantities with the help of digits

or numbers. These numbers are used to perform Arithmetic
calculations and also make logical decision to reach a conclusion,
depending on, the data they receive from the user.
3. Hybrid Computers

Various specifically designed computers are with both digital and

analog characteristics combining the advantages of analog and digital
computers when working as a system. Hybrid computers are being
used extensively in process control system where it is necessary to
have a close representation with the physical world.

The hybrid system provides the good precision that can be attained
with analog computers and the greater control that is possible with
digital computers, plus the ability to accept the input data in either
form.
1. Super Computers

Large scientific and research laboratories as well as the government

organizations have extra ordinary demand for processing data which
required tremendous processing speed, memory and other services
which may not be provided with any other category to meet their
needs. Therefore very large computers used are called Super
Computers. These computers are extremely expensive and the speed
is measured in billions of instructions per seconds. Application
involves, weather forecasting, military applications, electronic design
etc.
2. Mainframes

• Large computers both in terms of physical size as well as computations

• They support huge numbers of users
• Basically used to store and process huge amount of data
• Not all organizations can offered to maintain one mainframe. Take service of
one vendor
3. Mini Computers

Mini computers are smaller than mainframes, both in size and other
facilities such as speed, storage capacity and other services. They are
versatile that they can be fitted where ever they are needed. Their
speeds are rated between one and fifty million instructions per second
(MIPS).
4. Micro Computers

These are the smallest range of computers. They were introduced in

the early 70’s having less storing space and processing speed. Micro
computers of todays are equivalent to the mini computers of yesterday
in terms of performing and processing. They are also called “computer
of a chip” because its entire circuitry is contained in one tiny chip. The
micro computers have a wide range of applications including uses as
portable computer that can be plugged into any wall.
Personal Computers
• Used at home
• Used in Educations Institutions and
Organizations as nodes
• Can perform typical activities like
documentation, playing games, surfing
web to more complex activities as
programming, design, DTP etc.
Laptops
• Same as PCs in functionality
• More Compact, Portable
• Less Power requirement, operated on
battery/s
• Less capacity compared to PCs
• Maintenance and actually are costlier
compared to PCs
• Theft prone
Network Computers
• Collection of PCs
• Additional Network Interface Card
• Can share the information, work from
anywhere environment
• LAN – WAN – MAN – Internet
• Uniting the World
PDA – Personal Digital Assistant
• Like Micro computer in a general sense
• Smaller than laptops (can be called
Palmtops)
• Used to store information used frequently
wherever you go
• Nowadays work with smart cards which
has all the information of a user and
his/her transactions
Workstations
• They are similar to PCs but with more
memory and a high speed processor
• They are intended to support network
operating systems and network
applications.
• They are used in architectural design,
video editing, animations etc.
Servers
• A server is one for which many PCs are
connected.
• It has large capacity secondary storage
and more memory
• They host, like workstations, network
servers and operating systems
• They avoid duplicate installation of
applications and all users will access to a
common copy of the program
Compaq Server
Applications
• At Home
– Mostly to check mails
– Small documentation
– Gaming
– Music and Video
– To solve homework
– Photo Printouts using Good Printers
– Work from Home concept
Applications..
• In Education
– Schools to Universities
– To Educate necessary skills demanded by
Industries
– To give a demo or training
– Server the purpose of Teaching Aids
– To convey messages using Internet
Applications…
• In Science
– To analyze large data acquired over a period
of time
– To do complex floating point arithmetic
– Image Processing
– Research
Applications….
• In Industry
– To develop software, mostly to automate the
manual work
– To provide necessary solution to clients’
needs
– Software is developed for the needs of
networking, banking, business, retail etc
Applications…..
• Entertainment
– Music Industry
– Games
– Movies – to watch and create – 200 Linux
Machines in parallel to create visualization in
Titanic, the movie
– Cartoons, special effects
– Nowadays to promote theirs productions
Business
• Banking
– To store, access and modify huge amounts of
data
– Online business called e-business is
becoming popular with a small amount of
limitations
– Paying bills become easy and time saving
– online promotions
Applications……
• Government
– “Biometrics Attendance Monitoring”
– Weather Forecasting and military applications
– E- governance
– Online payment of taxes, Insurances
– Send Messages to virtually unreachable
places at present
– Wireless communication