Types of Computer

Types of Computers

fig: General Digital Desktop Computer

By end of this blog we will be familiar with following:

• Classification of computer based on work
• Classification of computer based on size
• Classification of computer based on model
• Classification of computer based on brand

Computer are used in different sectors to perform variety of task accurately at very high speed. Computer are different in processing speed, size, storage capacity, brand and type of works what they can perform. Computer are classified into various types. Classification is based on their different attributes. As Application areas of computer are not limited computer used in different sector are different. A computer used at your home is somehow different form the computer used at bank to store banks database.

Broadly computer are two types; specific purpose and general purpose. Specific purpose computer can carry out only a specific task where as general purpose computer can carry out a verity of task. The classification of computer varied with the advancement of technology. Therefore you can see the different types of classification of computer in chart below:

fig: Classification of computer

Computer are classified into 3 types based on work they are described below:

Analog Computer:

fig: Pressure Gauge(Analog Computer)

Analog computer are special purpose computer that works on continuous signal. It uses analog signal to display information is called analog computer. such measure physical quantities such as blood pressure, temperature, current flow, heart beats,current,voltage etc and convert them into numeric values.it operate by measuring rather than counting and give approximate results thus they are mainly used to control scientific equipment and engineering purpose not for personal purpose. Example are thermometer, barometer and speedometer etc.

Digital Computer:

Digital computer are most popular general purpose computer. It works on digital or discontinuous data like letters,number, symbol and figures which display information in form of text and graphics. This computer operate by counting numbers. All the data is converted into binary digit 0 and 1 and all operation are carried at very high speed. Digital computer are used in different sectors like home, office,school,hospitals,airports, business etc.

fig: PC(Digital computer)

Analog computer	Digital computer
It works with natural or physical values	It works with digital data or values
Accuracy of analog computer is low	Accuracy of digital computer is high
It is not flexible and cannot be reprogrammed	It is flexible and can be re programmed
It have very low or do not have storage	It have high storage or memory

Hybrid computer:

Hybrid computer are the special purpose computer that combine the best features of both analog and digital computer. It can work with analog as well as digital data. It is generally expensive than both analog and digital computer. These computer are used in industrial application, airplanes, ships, hospitals and scientific research centers etc. Pulse Electrocardiogram(ECG), Echo cardiogram(ECHO), Ultrasound machine, CT-Scan machine etc are some example of hybrid computer.

fig: Oscilloscope(hybrid computer)

 

on the basis of size digital computer are classified into four types they are discussed below:

Super Computer:

Super computer

super computer are the largest and most expensive digital computer. It contains several processor that work together to make it the most powerful and the fastest computer. They have large memory capacity and very high processing speeds for solving scientific and engineering problems. They are usually used in weather forecasting and global climates, biomedical research, aircraft design, robot design, military research and other areas of science and technology.Seismography, nuclear research, encrypting and decoding sensitive intelligence information are application area of these computers. CRAY-XMP,NEC-500, CYBER 205,SX-3, PARAM etc are example of supercomputer

Mainframe computer:

Mainframe computer next powerful computer specially designed as multi-user computer.Its used several CPU for data processing and more than 100 users can use this computer at a time. It allows its user to maintain storage at a centralized location and can be able to access and process from different computer. These computer are used in large business organization,industries, credit card processing , air traffic control system and security to process complex data. IBM S/390, ICL 39, IBM 3081 are examples of mainframe computer.

Mini Computer:

Mini computer are is larger and more powerful computer than most of microcomputer but it is smaller and less powerful than mainframe computer. It is also called as mid-range computer because the capabilities of mainframe computer is somewhere between mainframe and microcomputer . It is multi-user computer and supports about 12 users. Mini computer is mainly used in scientific research , engineering analysis, university and large business organization to process complex data. PDP-11(Programmed Data Processor), VAX, IBM 9375, CDC-1700, Prime 9755, HP3000 series etc are example of minicomputer

Microcomputer:

Microcomputer is small, low cost and single user digital computer. It is based in single integrated microprocessor chip(CPU) that is why it is called microcomputer. It is popular among students, professionals, business person and home users. The main reason of microcomputer's popularity is rapid rate in which their technologies are improved . It supports many higher level programming language , multimedia, graphics and games. Microcomputer is commonly used in office , homes, schools shops ,banks to perform different data processing jobs.

Computer	Definition
Analog Computer	Analog computer are those computer which is based on analog data and is mainly used for specific proposed.
Digital Computer	Digital computer are those computer which is based on discrete data and is mainly used for general proposed
Hybrid Computer	Hybrid computer has combined features of both analog as well as digital computer
Super Computer	Super computer is largest and most powerful digital computer. It is multi user, multiprocessor and most expensive digital computer
Mainframe Computer	Mainframe computer is multi-user computer that use several CPU, It is used  to maintain large information storage at centralized location
Mini Computer	Mini computer is also multi-user computer that supports few number of user.
Micro Computer	Micro computer is a small, low cost and single user digital computer.

Based on model digital computer are classified into three types. They are discussed below:

XT Computer:

XT is short for eXtended Technology. It is a name of IBM 5160 computer introduced on March 1983.It was first IBM computer with hard drive (10MB or 20 MB), floppy drive , up to 640kb of memory, an Intel 8088 processor and have processing speed of 4.77 MHz. It is comparatively slower and less flexible than other model. It cannot support GUI based OS and cannot run advanced version of software.

AT Computer:

AT is short for Advanced Technology. It is commonly known as IBM AT and is also called PC AT. It uses 80286,80386,80486 series of microprocessor and are comparatively faster and more efficient than XT computer. The latest AT computer has very high processing speed and memory capacity. This computer supports GUI based operating system and latest software.

PS-2 Computer:

fig: PS-2 port

PS-2 or Personal system-2 is more advanced computer introduced by IBM in 1987AD. It was IBM's third generation of personal computers. This model of computer is faster and more efficient than AT model and based on new refined architectural design. The computers and other similar devices came after PS-2 computer fall under this model.

fig: PS-2

Based on brand digital computer are classified into three types. They are discussed below:

IBM PC:

IBM-PC is the brand name of first most popular commercial PC developed by IBM corporation(reputed computer manufacturing company of the word). Introduced on august 12,1981 with modal name 5150. This PC was equipped with Intel 8088 processor 4.77MHz. These model computer have higher storage capacity and expensive than IBM compatibles. IBM PC was the fastest desktop computer of its time.

fig: IBM PC

IBM Compatible :

IBM company introduced the first personal computer in the market After ward some other companies except Apple develop the personal computer based on the same technology and design of IBM PC and they are named as IBM Compatible. IBM Compatible computer are similar and can perform the same function as original IBM PC. They duplicate almost exactly all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by IBM's choice of hardware components and various manufacture. these computer are comparatively cheaper and parts are easily available in the market. DELL,Compaq, lenovo , ACER ,HP, Samsung etc are some of the IBM compatible PC manufacturer companies.

Apple/Macintosh Computer:

fig: Apple / MAC computer

Apple Inc. is another popular leading personal computer manufacturing company in the world. It was established in America in late 1970 A.D. The apple company introduced the first computer having different architecture design compared to IBM PC on January 24,1984 AD. This was the first  mass-market personal computer having an essential graphical user interface and mouse.  The computer developed by this company are popularly known as Apple computer or MAC PCs. These computer used other software, hardware and their own operating system called Macintosh.