Name : Muhammad Mubtadiul Ulaa

NIM/ Class : 932206912/ TBI C

Classification of Computers According to the Size

Along the decades, computers have been developed greater so that it can be used by
people easily. And now, everyone knows about computers because people and organizations
use computers to store their data. They do not need papers anymore to note and big
cupboards to save the documents. Moreover, by existing the various sizes, computers can be
brought to everywhere. So they can do their works in everywhere without being limited by
space. Therefore, according to the size, computers can be classified into mainframe
computers, minicomputers, and microcomputers.
The first kind is mainframe computers. These are very largest computers that require
extensive space, approximately 1000 square areas, and they are expensive and difficult to
maintain. They have very large computing power which enables them to be capable of
handling multiple simultaneous activities, like batch processing, interactive processing,
transaction processing, and all others under control of an operating system that provide for
scheduling and control facilities. Several million instructions can be processed mainframes
per second. Moreover, their processing speed is high, so this kind of computers has been used
in large institutions or organizations to process their very large amount of information, for
example, bank, insurance companies, and others, and for instance of this kind of computers is
IBM 370.
The second is minicomputers. These computers are smaller in size than mainframe
computers, approximately 10 square areas. Their memory is less than mainframe computers;
the price is lower; moreover, their processing speed system is lower than mainframes. But
minicomputers also have ability to handle complex calculations like accounting, data base
management, statistical packages for social sciences etc. these computers are also known as
medium computers and usually used in medium organizations. Prime 9755 is one of
minicomputers examples.
And the last is microcomputers. These are the smallest and the cheapest computers
than other computers. These computers are also known as personal computers (PC) which are
designed as singular user system. Although they are the smallest computers, but their
processing speed is not inferior to other computers. Their central processing unit consists of
microprocessor placed on silicon chips. Desktop computer, non-portable computers, and
laptop, portable computers, are for instances of microcomputers.
From the explanation above, we finally know that the classification of computers
according to the size can be divided into mainframe computers, minicomputers, and
microcomputers. From those kinds, microcomputers are the most popular for people. The size
which is small is one of the reasons why microcomputers become popular, especially laptop
as an example of microcomputers. The size of laptop enables people to bring it to everywhere
they want because it can be entered into their backpack or anything else that it can be the
receptacle of it.