Computers types

I, Computer: Definition
A computer is a machine that can be programmed to manipulate symbols. Its principal characteristics are:
It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.
It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).
It can quicly store and retrie!e large amounts of data.
"herefore computers can perform complex and repetiti!e procedures quicly# precisely and reliably. $odern
computers are electronic and digital. "he actual machinery (wires# transistors# and circuits) is called
hardware% the instructions and data are called software. All general-purpose computers require the following
hardware components:
Central processing unit (C&'): "he heart of the computer# this is the component that actually executes
instructions organi(ed in programs ()software)) which tell the computer what to do.
$emory (fast# expensi!e# short-term memory): *nables a computer to store# at least temporarily# data#
programs# and intermediate results.
$ass storage de!ice (slower# cheaper# long-term memory): Allows a computer to permanently retain
large amounts of data and programs between +obs. Common mass storage de!ices include dis dri!es and
tape dri!es.
Input de!ice: 'sually a eyboard and mouse# the input de!ice is the conduit through which data and
instructions enter a computer.
,utput de!ice: A display screen# printer# or other de!ice that lets you see what the computer has
accomplished.
In addition to these components# many others mae it possible for the basic components to wor together
efficiently. -or example# e!ery computer requires a bus that transmits data from one part of the computer to
another.
II, Computer sizes and power
Computers can be generally classified by si(e and power as follows# though there is considerable o!erlap:
&ersonal computer: A small# single-user computer based on a microprocessor.
.orstation: A powerful# single-user computer. A worstation is lie a personal computer# but it has a
more powerful microprocessor and# in general# a higher-quality monitor.
$inicomputer: A multi-user computer capable of supporting up to hundreds of users simultaneously.
$ainframe: A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously.
/upercomputer: An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per
second.
("his document maes use of some definitions from $eclermedia) 1
/upercomputers $inicomputer
s
$ainframes .orstations &ersonal Computers
0east powerful $ost powerful
Supercomputer and Mainframe
/upercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest computers currently a!ailable. /upercomputers are !ery
expensi!e and are employed for speciali(ed applications that require immense amounts of mathematical
calculations (number crunching). -or example# weather forecasting requires a supercomputer. ,ther uses of
supercomputers scientific simulations# (animated) graphics# fluid dynamic calculations# nuclear energy
research# electronic design# and analysis of geological data (e.g. in petrochemical prospecting). &erhaps the
best nown supercomputer manufacturer is Cray 1esearch.
$ainframe was a term originally referring to the cabinet containing the central processor unit or )main
frame) of a room-filling /tone Age batch machine. After the emergence of smaller )minicomputer) designs
in the early 2345s# the traditional big iron machines were described as )mainframe computers) and
e!entually +ust as mainframes. 6owadays a $ainframe is a !ery large and expensi!e computer capable of
supporting hundreds# or e!en thousands# of users simultaneously. "he chief difference between a
supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few
programs as fast as possible# whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently. In
some ways# mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support more simultaneous
programs. 7ut supercomputers can execute a single program faster than a mainframe. "he distinction
between small mainframes and minicomputers is !ague# depending really on how the manufacturer wants to
maret its machines.
Minicomputer
It is a midsi(e computer. In the past decade# the distinction between large minicomputers and small
mainframes has blurred# howe!er# as has the distinction between small minicomputers and worstations. 7ut
in general# a minicomputer is a multiprocessing system capable of supporting from up to 855 users
simultaneously.
Workstation
It is a type of computer used for engineering applications (CA9:CA$)# destop publishing# software
de!elopment# and other types of applications that require a moderate amount of computing power and
relati!ely high quality graphics capabilities. .orstations generally come with a large# high-resolution
graphics screen# at large amount of 1A$# built-in networ support# and a graphical user interface. $ost
worstations also ha!e a mass storage de!ice such as a dis dri!e# but a special type of worstation# called a
disless worstation# comes without a dis dri!e. "he most common operating systems for worstations are
'6I; and .indows 6". 0ie personal computers# most worstations are single-user computers. <owe!er#
worstations are typically lined together to form a local-area networ# although they can also be used as
stand-alone systems.
6.7.: In networing# worstation refers to any computer connected to a local-area networ. It could be a
worstation or a personal computer.
("his document maes use of some definitions from $eclermedia) 2
Personal computer:
It can be defined as a small# relati!ely inexpensi!e computer designed for an indi!idual user. In price#
personal computers range anywhere from a few hundred pounds to o!er fi!e thousand pounds. All are based
on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an entire C&' on one chip. 7usinesses
use personal computers for word processing# accounting# destop publishing# and for running spreadsheet
and database management applications. At home# the most popular use for personal computers is for playing
games and recently for surfing the Internet.
&ersonal computers first appeared in the late 2345s. ,ne of the first and most popular personal computers
was the Apple II# introduced in 2344 by Apple Computer. 9uring the late 2345s and early 23=5s# new
models and competing operating systems seemed to appear daily. "hen# in 23=2# I7$ entered the fray with
its first personal computer# nown as the I7$ &C. "he I7$ &C quicly became the personal computer of
choice# and most other personal computer manufacturers fell by the wayside. &.C. is short for personal
computer or I7$ &C. ,ne of the few companies to sur!i!e I7$>s onslaught was Apple Computer# which
remains a ma+or player in the personal computer maretplace. ,ther companies ad+usted to I7$>s
dominance by building I7$ clones# computers that were internally almost the same as the I7$ &C# but that
cost less. 7ecause I7$ clones used the same microprocessors as I7$ &Cs# they were capable of running the
same software. ,!er the years# I7$ has lost much of its influence in directing the e!olution of &Cs.
"herefore after the release of the first &C by I7$ the term &C increasingly came to mean I7$ or I7$-
compatible personal computers# to the exclusion of other types of personal computers# such as $acintoshes.
In recent years# the term &C has become more and more difficult to pin down. In general# though# it applies
to any personal computer based on an Intel microprocessor# or on an Intel-compatible microprocessor. -or
nearly e!ery other component# including the operating system# there are se!eral options# all of which fall
under the rubric of &C
"oday# the world of personal computers is basically di!ided between Apple $acintoshes and &Cs. "he
principal characteristics of personal computers are that they are single-user systems and are based on
microprocessors. <owe!er# although personal computers are designed as single-user systems# it is common
to lin them together to form a networ. In terms of power# there is great !ariety. At the high end# the
distinction between personal computers and worstations has faded. <igh-end models of the $acintosh and
&C offer the same computing power and graphics capability as low-end worstations by /un $icrosystems#
<ewlett-&acard# and 9*C.
III, Personal Computer Tpes
Actual personal computers can be generally classified by si(e and chassis : case. "he chassis or case is the
metal frame that ser!es as the structural support for electronic components. *!ery computer system requires
at least one chassis to house the circuit boards and wiring. "he chassis also contains slots for expansion
boards. If you want to insert more boards than there are slots# you will need an expansion chassis# which
pro!ides additional slots. "here are two basic fla!ors of chassis designs?destop models and tower models?
but there are many !ariations on these two basic types. "hen come the portable computers that are computers
small enough to carry. &ortable computers include noteboo and subnoteboo computers# hand-held
computers# palmtops# and &9As.
Tower model
"he term refers to a computer in which the power supply# motherboard# and mass storage de!ices are staced
on top of each other in a cabinet. "his is in contrast to destop models# in which these components are
housed in a more compact box. "he main ad!antage of tower models is that there are fewer space
constraints# which maes installation of additional storage de!ices easier.
("his document maes use of some definitions from $eclermedia) !
Desktop model
A computer designed to fit comfortably on top of a des# typically with the monitor sitting on top of the
computer. 9estop model computers are broad and low# whereas tower model computers are narrow and tall.
7ecause of their shape# destop model computers are generally limited to three internal mass storage
de!ices. 9estop models designed to be !ery small are sometimes referred to as slimline models.
"ote#ook computer
An extremely lightweight personal computer. 6oteboo computers typically weigh less than @ pounds and
are small enough to fit easily in a briefcase. Aside from si(e# the principal difference between a noteboo
computer and a personal computer is the display screen. 6oteboo computers use a !ariety of techniques#
nown as flat-panel technologies# to produce a lightweight and non-buly display screen. "he quality of
noteboo display screens !aries considerably. In terms of computing power# modern noteboo computers are
nearly equi!alent to personal computers. "hey ha!e the same C&'s# memory capacity# and dis dri!es.
<owe!er# all this power in a small pacage is expensi!e. 6oteboo computers cost about twice as much as
equi!alent regular-si(ed computers. 6oteboo computers come with battery pacs that enable you to run
them without plugging them in. <owe!er# the batteries need to be recharged e!ery few hours.
$aptop computer
A small# portable computer -- small enough that it can sit on your lap. 6owadays# laptop computers are more
frequently called noteboo computers.
Su#note#ook computer
A portable computer that is slightly lighter and smaller than a full-si(ed noteboo computer. "ypically#
subnoteboo computers ha!e a smaller eyboard and screen# but are otherwise equi!alent to noteboo
computers.
%and&'eld computer
A portable computer that is small enough to be held in oneAs hand. Although extremely con!enient to carry#
handheld computers ha!e not replaced noteboo computers because of their small eyboards and screens.
"he most popular hand-held computers are those that are specifically designed to pro!ide &I$ (personal
information manager) functions# such as a calendar and address boo. /ome manufacturers are trying to
sol!e the small eyboard problem by replacing the eyboard with an electronic pen. <owe!er# these pen-
based de!ices rely on handwriting recognition technologies# which are still in their infancy. <and-held
computers are also called &9As# palmtops and pocet computers.
Palmtop
A small computer that literally fits in your palm. Compared to full-si(e computers# palmtops are se!erely
limited# but they are practical for certain functions such as phone boos and calendars. &almtops that use a
pen rather than a eyboard for input are often called hand-held computers or &9As. 7ecause of their small
si(e# most palmtop computers do not include dis dri!es. <owe!er# many contain &C$CIA slots in which
you can insert dis dri!es# modems# memory# and other de!ices. &almtops are also called &9As# hand-held
computers and pocet computers.
PD(
/hort for personal digital assistant# a handheld de!ice that combines computing# telephone:fax# and
networing features. A typical &9A can function as a cellular phone# fax sender# and personal organi(er.
'nlie portable computers# most &9As are pen-based# using a stylus rather than a eyboard for input. "his
means that they also incorporate handwriting recognition features. /ome &9As can also react to !oice input
by using !oice recognition technologies. "he field of &9A was pioneered by Apple Computer# which
introduced the 6ewton $essage&ad in 233B. /hortly thereafter# se!eral other manufacturers offered similar
products. "o date# &9As ha!e had only modest success in the maretplace# due to their high price tags and
limited applications. <owe!er# many experts belie!e that &9As will e!entually become common gadgets.
&9As are also called palmtops# hand-held computers and pocet computers.
("his document maes use of some definitions from $eclermedia) )