Types of Computer

Types of Computer

COMPUTER TYPES

The computers can also be categorized by their size. The size Of a computer is often

an indirect indicator Of its capabilities and the application domains where they are employed.

The following 6 categories are in order Of descending size.

1. Supercomputer
2. Mainframes Computers
3. Minicomputer
4. Microcomputer
5. Smartphones
6. Embedded Computers

Supercomputers

•  These are huge machines having the most powerful and fastest processors.
•  A supercomputer uses multiple CPUs for parallel data processing.
•  Speeds are measured in flop (floating-point operations per second).
• The fastest supercomputer (the Tianhe-2) operates at a speed Of 34 petaflops. (1 Peta — 1000 tera).
• Supercomputers can handle multiple users but that's not its unique feature. 
• Supercomputers are too powerful to be used for transaction processing.
• Used for weather forecasting, analysis Of geological data, nuclear simulation and space exploration.
• They are also used to solve complex scientific problems Supercomputers have enormous storage, with huge amounts Of power and generate a lot of heat.
• Because of their exorbitant cost, they are mainly used by government agencies

the figure representing supercomputer.

Mainframes

• These are multi-user machines that can support hundreds or thousands Of users using the feature of time-sharing supported by systems like Linux.
• Users interact with this system using a terminal and keyboard, which is akin to the way we use PCs.
• Mainframes can concurrently run multiple programs even with a single CPU.
• The processor speed in a mainframe is measured in mip (million instructions per second).
• Mainframes are generally used to handle data and applications related to the organization as a whole.
• The mainframes are employed to handle online transactions (stock exchange transactions, for instance).
• The capability to handle large amounts Of data makes the mainframe suitable for use in government, banks and financial institutions, and large corporations.

Note:

  The supercomputer is employed to run one program as fast as possible. The mainframe is meant to serve a large number Of users.

the figure representing Mainframe-computer.

Minicomputers

• Minicomputers or midrange computers as they can be considered as downsized mainframes since they have the essential features of mainframes.
• Minicomputers can serve hundreds of users and are small enough to partially occupy a mom. But they are not affordable enough to be used in the home.
• The minicomputer, which Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) introduced in the 1970s, is thus rightly positioned between a mainframe and a micro-computer.
• Minicomputers are used in smaller organizations or a department of large one captive machines Of turnkey equipment running specialized software.

figure represents mini-computer

Microcomputers

• The microcomputer or personal computer (PC) introduced by Apple and later endorsed by IBM.
• This computer is a single-user machine powered by a single microprocessor;
• Today's PCs are very powerful machines having gigabytes Of memory and a terabyte or two Of disk storage.
• They are used both in the standalone mode (at home) and in a network (in office).   A microcomputer takes the form Of a desktop, notebook (laptop) or a netbook (smaller Laptop).
• Even though a PC has a single CPU, high-end PCs support microprocessors come with multiple cores like the Intel Core i5 and i7 etc. Each core can be considered with some approximation processor by itself.
• PCs today are powered by three types Of operating systems Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
• Businesses and individuals use the PC for word processing, spreadsheet handling and desktop publishing; PCs also support Internet browsing software like Firefox and Google Chrome.
• All PCs are multimedia ready, they can handle images, audio and video files the PC is also an entertainment device.
• A variant Of the microcomputer is the workstation which essentially is a microcomputer with a more powerful processor, high-resolution terminal and high-quality graphic capabilities (like CAD/CAM).

figure representing microcomputer

Smartphones and Embedded Computers

The relentless drive toward miniaturization has led to the emergence Of two types Of devices

1. Smartphones:

• The smartphone is a general-purpose computer that is also capable of making phone calls.
• The smartphone has a powerful processor, usually with multiple cores like the quad-core Snapdragon 820).
• It also supports gigabytes of main memory but doesn't have a hard disk for secondary storage. This requirement is met by flash memory.
• Smartphones today run a well-developed operating system (Android or iOS) and can run a wide range Of application (popularly called "apps"). 

figure representing smartphones

2. Embedded computers:

• The embedded computer is a small computer-like that is part Of a larger system. Embedded computers (also called microcontrollers) arrived before smartphones.   These are very small circuits containing CPU, non-volatile memory and input and output handling facilities.
• They are embedded into many of the machines that we cars, washing machines, MP3 players and cameras.
• The processor here in a single modifiable program stored in memories embedded computers can't match the capabilities Of a smartphone.

figure representing embedded_computer

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