Types of Computers

Published on June 2016 | Categories: Types, School Work | Downloads: 43 | Comments: 0 | Views: 269
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Types of computers Basic computer types
Digital computers
They process discrete data values (0 1 2 3), operating on it in steps e.g. counting of our fingers is simplest digital operation. Examples includes digital watches, fuel pumps

Analog computers
These process data in the form of electrical voltages which variable positions of a pointer on a dial. Output is in the form of smooth graphs from which information can be read. Examples include volt meters, speedometer

Hybrid computers
They combine the features of basic digital and analog computers.

Purpose classification
Special purpose computers
They do a particular job to solve problems of restricted nature. E.g. digital watch computers, programmable petrol pumps It is used in weapon guidance

General purpose computers
These solve a wide range (variety) of problems; can be adapted to perform particular tasks or solving problems by means of specially written programs.

Classification by usage
Word processor
This is a special purpose computer used in the production of office documents, letters, and contracts – does text.

Personal computer (PC)
A microcomputer designed for independent use by an individual at work/home mainly for business purposes. Some are portable; they can be connected to a minicomputer or mainframe computer to gain access to larger machine facilities.

Home computer
This is a low cost microcomputer of limited capabilities; programs are designed for domestic uses e.g. computer games and for controlling family finance.

Desktop computer
Desktop computer are designed for use on a desk in an office environment e.g. home computer, PC

Workstation
   This is another type of a desktop computer. Larger and powerful PC can be workstations. They have advanced features which are not found on PCs; these are in-built capabilities for interconnection and processing pictorial and text data types

Laptop computer
The laptop computer is sufficiently small and light for the user to comfortably use it on the lap. It operates from mains electricity/rechargeable battery. These are small enough to fit in a brief case, have in-built disk drives and flat screen. The later ones are mostly liquid crystal display (LCD) – gives clear pictures.

Imbedded computers
As the name implies, they are imbedded devices or systems which are not accessed directly; e.g. within petrol pumps, watch, cameras video recorders, and many types of domestic and industrial equipment, cell phones, microwave cooker, Compact Disk changers etc. They are hard wired into another device and dedicated to a specific purpose.

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Computer categories
 Supercomputers

 Mainframes  Minicomputers  Microcomputers

Supercomputers
     Describes a category of extremely powerful computers specifically designed for high speed numeric computations. The computer can process hundreds of millions of instructions per second. High capacity computers capable of executing instructions faster than mainframe and are extremely expensive. The speed of executing these instructions generates extreme heat, and therefore the computers require special cooling system to operate. Uses include weather forecasting, scientific and mathematical research, and design of high speed aircraft and space exploration.

Mainframes
       Mainframes are large, powerful computers that are physically larger than micros and minis and usually have one or more central processors with faster instructions processing speed. They typically process hundreds of millions of instruction per second. Mainframes have large primary storage capacity. Many Mainframe models have ability to service hundreds of users at once. Some commercial organizations require large amounts of data to be processed in the least possible time and Mainframes allow them to perform such functions Uses of Mainframes include: data warehousing, commercial airline ticketing and reservations, government record keeping and financial servicing. Application categories: host computers, database servers and transaction processors.

Minicomputers
       Minicomputers are larger and more powerful than most microcomputers but are smaller and less powerful than most Mainframe computer system. Serve in industrial process-control manufacturing plant computers and play a major role in CAM Also take the form powerful technical workstations for CAD applications Often used as front-end processors/computers to help Mainframe computers control data communications networks with large numbers of data entry terminals. Also used as powerful network servers to help manage large interconnected LANs that tie together many workstations. Downsizing is a term that was commonly used in the early nineties when smaller computers, capable of much of the functions of Mainframes, began capturing the market. Minicomputers are suitable for mid-sized companies that require the computing power of Mainframes to be efficient and at the same time be cost effective.

 

Users of minis would be smaller banks and financial institutions, supermarket chains and departmental stores. Application categories: network servers and application systems

Microcomputers
         We refer to a microcomputer as a personal computer or PC. Microcomputers categorized by size include: Desktop Most PCs are single user computers, perform a diverse range of functions and can be further classified by size e.g. desktop, laptop, palmtop The late nineties have seen a huge influx of microcomputers whose sole aim was to provide affordable computing power to the general public. They are now used as Network servers. The demand for microcomputers and the change in microchip technology have produced cheaper computers that are affordable to students and the general public. Can support CAD Users of PCs range from students, who use them for word processing to a salesperson who depend on the PC for information. Network servers are powerful microcomputers that controls and coordinates communication and resource sharing in LANs of interconnected PCs and other devices. NB: there is a farther step in miniaturization, various integrated circuits (I.Cs) and elements of a computer are replaced by a single I.C called a chip. The continuing and rapid technological advancement have affected the whole computer industry.

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