Types of Computers

The computer is divided into three broad categories, and a category has its own categories
given as below:

On the basis of Work:

Digital, Analog and Hybrid Computer:

Sn Digital computer Analog Computer Hybrid Computer

1. A computer that uses
Computers that use analog signal to A computer that is
binary digits to display display information is able to understand
discrete information is called analog binary as well as
called digital computer. analog signal to
computer. display information is
called Hybrid
computer.

2.
Information is in Information in Information depends
discrete form. It continuous form and on operating mode of
 displays information in displayed in the form computer. It can
the form of text, of curves. It is used to display information in
graphics, and pictures. measure continuous discrete and
physical quantity like continuous form
as current flow, because for digital
temperature, blood processing and next
pressure, heart beats. part is for analog
processing.

3. Intermediate in Speed
Slow Fast

On the basis of Size:

Super, Mainframe, Mini and Microcomputer:

(a) Super Computer: Multi-user, multiprocessor large computer of very high efficiency and
storing capacity is called supercomputer able to solve very difficult and complex problem
within a nano seconds. A number of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processors
are used. Its word length is 64 bits.

Super computer

 
Applications of Super computer:

(i) Used to forecast the Weather and global climates

(ii) Used in military research and defense systems

(iii) In automobile, aircraft, and space craft designing

(iv) In encrypting and decoding sensitive intelligence information

(v) Used in seismography, plasma and nuclear research.

(vi) Protein folding analysis

(vii) Study of DNA structure and gene engineering

(viii) Digital film rendering

Example: C-DAC (Center for Development of Advanced Computer) of India has

developed PARAM series of Super Computer.

ANURAG is also Indian Super Computer. Other Super computers are CRAY XMP/14, CDC-
205 etc. Mr. Seymour Cray was a pioneer person in the field of supercomputer production.
He had developed the first super computer Cray-1 in 1976.

(b) Mainframe Computer: It is also very powerful multi-user computer used in large

business organizations, examination department of examinations, industries and defense to
process data of complex nature. It can response several hundred request very quickly. It
uses several CPU for data processing.

More than 100 users can use mainframe computer at a time because it works on time
sharing mode. Its word length is 48 bits to 64 bits. IBM built the first Mainframe Computer,
System/ 360, in 1964.

Example: IBM S/390, IBM S/709, ICL 39, CDC 6600

IBM S/390

Applications of Mainframe Computer:

(i) Government and civilian

(ii) Credit card processing

(iii) Bank

(iv) Marketing

(V) Business data processing in large organization

(vi) Air traffic control system

(vii) Industrial design

 
(c) Minicomputer: Minicomputers are larger and more powerful than most microcomputers
but are smaller and less powerful than most large mainframe computer systems. However,
this is not a precise destination. High-end models of microcomputer systems (super micros)
are more powerful than some midrange computers, while high—end models of midrange
systems (supermini) are more powerful than some smaller models of mainframe computers.

It is also multi-user computer and supports more than dozens of people at a time. It is
costlier than microcomputer. It is also used in university, large business organizations to
process complex data. It is also used in scientific research, instrumentation system,
engineering analysis, and industrial process monitoring and control.

Example: PDP-11, VAX etc.

VAX

(d) Microcomputer: In 1976 the first personal Computer – Apple-1, Apple computer is

designed. In 1981 August, IBM had announced the IBM 5150 PC, in New York. Now a day
mostly used computers are microcomputers. It is called Home PC or Personal computer (PC)
because it is a single user computer. It supports many higher level languages, multimedia,
graphics, 3D graphics and games.

It is popular among students, professionals and home wives due to small size, low price,
and low maintenance cost and easy in operation. The Internet is popular due to PC and it is
available for all income groups. The American weekly magazine regarded it “Machine of
year” in 1982 when IBM lunched PC in market first time. The first IBM PC was equipped
with following components:

 Intel 8088 Processor of 4.77 MHZ

 64 KB RAM (expandable to 256 KB)

 40MB ROM

 5.25″ floppy drive (160KB)

 PC-DOS 1.0 (MS DOS)

Example: IBM PCs, Apple Mac, IBM PS/2 etc.

Laptop and Palmtop Computers

These handheld computers are not replacements for desktop computers. Desktop computers
continue to perform major processing functions, while palmtops are satellite for quick and
mobile information access and communication. Computers are small, portable, less power
consuming and equipped with all the facilities of modern PC. These computers can be
operated by battery. These computers have no enough storing capacities like as desktop
computers, but not less in other facilities. It has CD drive, floppy drive, modem and other
input/output ports.

The typical handheld computers come with personal information manager (PIM) functions:
calendar, address list, task list, and memos. These would appear to be the core features of
the machine, but they really only scratch the surface of its potential.

The idea of laptop computer was originated by Alan Kay of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
in 1970 and named to notebook like computer as Dynabook, but first Laptop was designed
in 1979 by William Moggridge of Grid System Crops. In 1983, Gavilan produced a laptop
computer with 64 Kilobyte memory, MS-DOS operating system, touchpad mouse, portable
printer of weight 9Ib.
PALMTOP

Learning and self-improvement are critical to educational leaders. Enormous amounts of

information are created constantly, and the lifelong learner needs to have timely access to
it. Web pages and other digital documents can be put on palmtop computers for
enrichment. Palmtop computers are boon for remote area where there is no electricity
facilities available.

The higher authorities, social workers, researcher working in remote rural area get more
benefits by palmtop or laptop computers. The desktop is your personal computer seated at
the top of your desk, laptop has no problem on your lap, and palmtop is happy in your
palm.

Multimedia Computer

The term multimedia is not unknown among computer users. Multimedia is a combined form
of two or more media like as text, graphics, sound, animation etc. Now a day, the
multimedia PC is a choice of all. Analog Digital Converter (ADC) converts the sound wave
into digital signal in multimedia computer. Without the talk of MPEG (Motion Picture Expert
Group), the multimedia is uncompleted. It is a standard used to compress sound (audio)
and videos for computer. It is named as MPEG-1, MPEG-2 etc.

The creative sound blaster 16 bits is proved as revolutionary steps in the world of
multimedia and computer become more popular than Television sets.

 
On the basis of Brand:

On the basis of brand computer has two worldwide brands:

 IBM PC and
 Apple / Macintosh Computer

The Apple series of microcomputers was developed by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs in
1976. This used 8-bit microprocessor chips. The chip enabled them to put together a
complete computer, a keyboard for input, and processors in memory and screen all in small
box. Apple II is known as personal computer.

IBM PC and its compatible versions have largest share in PC market. Most of the users of
the world have IBM PC, but Macs have its own users, mostly people interested in graphics
works and publishing sectors.

On the basis of Model:

On the basis of Model computer is classified as:

(a) xT Computer (eXtra Technology): It cannot support GUI based operating system. Its
processing speed is 4.77 MHz and Intel 8080, 8086, 8088 series of microprocessors is used.

(b) AT Computer (Advance Technology): It supports GUI based operating systems. Its
speed is 2 G Hz and word length64 bits. Its processors are Intel series of 80286, 80386,
80486, Pentium I, Pentium II etc.

(c) PS/2 Computer: It is a laptop computer with rechargeable and battery based system.
It is operated with OS/2 operating system.