TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be classified, or typed, many ways.Some common classifications are  below -

Ø Microcomputers (personal computers)

Microcomputers are the most common kind of computers used by people today, whether in a workplace, at school or on the desk at home. The “microcomputer”was introduced with the advent of singl chip microprocessors.

These computers include:

v Desktop computers – A case and a display, put under and on a desk.

   

v In-car computers (“carputers”) – Built into a car,for entertainment navigation,etc.    

v Game consoles – Fixed computers specialized for entertainment purposes (video games).    

          

v Laptops, notebook computers –  A PC that can be moved around is called a laptop. It gets its name from the fact that you can keep it on your lap and use it. It is also called a notebook because you can carry the battery-operated device to classes or meetings conveniently and store any notes or information in it. It integrates the monitor, keyboard, pointing device, CPU, memory and hard drive in one system.   

   

v Palmtop computers/ PDA – A handheld PC, or H/PC for short, is a computer built around a form factor which is smaller than any standard laptop computer. It is sometimes referred to as a palmtop. The first hand-held device compatible with desktop IBM personal computers of the time was the Atari Portfolio of 1989.  

                   

v Tablet computer – Like laptops, but with a touch-screen, sometimes entirely replacing the physical keyboard. 

 

v Smartphones, smartbooks  – Small handheld computers with limited hardware.
        

v Programmable calculator– Like small handhelds, but specialised on mathematical work. 

v Handheld game consoles – The same as game consoles, but small and portable.

    

Ø Minicomputers (midrange computers)

A minicomputer (colloquially, mini) is a class of multi-user

computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum,

in between the smallest multi-user systems (mainframe computers)

and the largest single-user systems (microcomputers or personal

computers). The contemporary term for this class of system is

midrange computer, such as the higher-end SPARC, POWER

andItanium -based systems from Oracle Corporation, IBM and

Hewlett-Packard. E.g.- Laboratory computers.

SPARC

POWER

Ø Mainframe computers

The term mainframe computer was created to distinguish the

traditional, large, institutional computer intended to service multiple

users from the smaller, single user machines. These computers are

capable of handling and processing very large amounts of data

quickly. Mainframe computers are used in large institutions such as

government, banks and large corporations. They are measured in

MIPS(million instructions per second) and respond to up to 100s of

millions of users at a time.

Ø Supercomputers

A supercomputer is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical

calculations such as weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, nuclear simulations,

theoretical astrophysics, and complex scientific computations. A

supercomputer is a computer that is at the frontline of current processing

capacity, particularly speed of calculation.

In terms of computational capability, memory size and speed, I/O technology, and

topological issues such as bandwidth and latency, supercomputers are the most

powerful, are very expensive, and not cost-effective just to perform batch or

transaction processing. Transaction processing is handled by less powerful

computers such as server computers or mainframes.