Types of Computers

TYPES OF COMPUTERS
Classification of Computers
 Computer Types Computer can be divided into different

types on the following basis:
 On the basis of Construction
 On the basis of Configuration

Digital and Analog Computers
Analog
Digital
Hybrid
Classification of computers
 On the basis of Configuration

 Palmtop
 Laptop
 Micro
 Mainframe
 Miniframe
 Super
Analog Computer
Analog Computer Analog computers are designed to measure

continuous electrical or physical conditions, such as current,
voltage, flow, temperature, length, or pressure.
Purpose: -Mostly analog computers are special-purpose
computers. Normally they are designed to perform some
specific task not multiple tasks.
Components of Analog computer

operational amplifier
 the computer's capacity is determined by the number of
amplifiers. Examples
 Wrist watch (if non-digital),
 car's speedometer, pressure,
 temperature,
 fuel gauges are also considered analog computers.
Uses of Analog computers
 Uses of Analog Computer:- The output of an analog computer is often

an adjustment to the control of a machine; such as, an adjustment to a
valve that controls the flow of steam to a turbine generator.
 It is also used in temperature setting to control the ovens for baking.
 They have been widely used in simulating the operation of aircraft,
nuclear power plants, and industrial chemical processes.
Digital Computers
Digital Computer Digital computers are designed to perform

daily routine tasks such as writing letters, sending e- mails,
performing calculations in an office or creating a database to
store large amount of data etc. Purpose
•Digital computers may be either special or general purpose.
Mostly these computers are designed to perform multiple
tasks.
Key components of digital computers
 IC (Integrated Circuits)
 Examples :-Personal Computer, Laptop,
Mainframe, Super Computer etc.
Use of digital computers
 Word processing is the most common application for personal

digital computers.
 Accounting - Computers are ideal for keeping payroll records,
printing paychecks, billing customers, preparing tax returns, and
taking care of many of the other accounting tasks in an
organization.
 Record keeping - Computers can record information like
inventories and personnel files.
Digital computers in Industrial purposes
 Industrial computers save considerable time and reduce

waste by efficiently performing hundreds of industrial tasks.
 Science - The research and development applications are the
most numerous.
 Digital computers are being used to do lengthy and
complicated mathematical calculations millions of times
faster than human beings.
Hybrid Computers
 Hybrid Computer A computer which possesses

characteristics of both Analog and Digital computers is
called Hybrid computer.
 Some computers combine the functions of both analog and
digital computers. These computers are called Hybrid
Computers.
Types of Hybrid Computers
 Examples of Hybrid Computers:-

 Used in Cement plant,
 ECG machine, CNG pump, etc
Classification of digital computers

Micro computer
 The microcomputers are also known as personal computers or simply PCs.
 They are also called Desktop computers.
 Microcomputers are the most common, smallest and very cheaper
computers.
 They were introduced in 1970’s as a result of the development of
microprocessor.
 A single microprocessor may carry more than hundred thousand transistors
on a single silicon chip.
Types of Micro computers
 Micro Computer Size: A personal computer can be placed

easily on any table or desk. Ex. Desktop PCs
 Micro Computer Tower PCs
Uses of Micro Computers
 MicroComputers are being widely accepted and used in

business, at home and in educational institutions.
 They are commonly known as personal computers and are
usually single user machines but can be interconnected
among themselves to form a Local Area Network.
Laptop Computers
 A laptopcomputer (also known as notebook computer) is a

small mobile personal computer, usually weighing around
from 1 to 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds).
 Notebooks smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and weighing
around 1 kg are termed subnotebooks
Components of Laptop Computers
 Laptopscontain components that are similar to those in their

desktop counterparts and perform the same functions but are
designed for mobile use and efficient power consumption.
 Laptops have LCD displays for output. In addition to a built-
in keyboard, they may utilize a touchpad (also known as a
track pad) or a pointing stick for input, though an external
mouse or keyboard can also be attached.
Use of Laptop Computers
 Laptops are generally popular among students, travelers and

businessmen.
 Laptops are capable of many of the same tasks that desktop
computers perform..
 HP 320LX, Dell inspiron, Macbook and Vadem Clio
Palmtop Computer
 Palmtop Computer are

 A small computer that literally fits in your palm. Compared
to full-size computers, palmtops are limited, but they are
practical for certain functions such as phone books and
calendars.
 Theyare also called hand-held computers, pocket computers
or PDA (Personal data assistant or pocket digital assistant)
Key Components of Palmtop Computers
 The primary input device of a PDA is the stylus. A stylus is

an electronic pen and looks like a small ballpoint pen.
 Thisinput device is used to write notes and store in the PDA
by touching the screen.
 Palmtop Uses Palmtops are generally popular among
students, travelers and businessmen
Mainframe computers
 Mainframe Computer:-A mainframe (also known as "big

iron") is a high-performance computer used for large-scale
computing purposes that require greater availability and
security of data than a smaller- scale machine can offer.
 In the past, a typical mainframe might have occupied 2,000 -
10,000 square feet. Now the mainframe computer specially
requires a very large clean room with air-conditioner.
Functions of Mainframe Computers
 Historically,mainframes have been associated with centralized

rather than distributed computing.
 Mainframe computers are usually large and expensive
computers. Thousands of users can work at a time on
mainframe computers.
 Forexample, IBM, S/390 mainframe can support 50,000 users
simultaneously.
Mainframe Computer Operating System and
Uses
 Special operating systems are used on main frames such as z/VM, z/VSE™, Linux
for System z™, and z/TPF.
 Mainframe Computer Uses:-
 The mainframe computers are specially used as servers on the World Wide Web.
The mainframe computers are used in large organizations such as Banks, Airlines
and Universities etc. where many people (users) need frequent access to the same
data, which is usually organized into one or more huge databases. Examples: IBM
S/390, Control Data CYBER 176 and Amdahl 580
Miniframe Computers
 Minicomputers were first introduced in early 1960s. A minicomputer is

a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the
mainframe computers and the microcomputers.
 They are smaller than mainframes in size and other facilities, such as
speed, storage capacity and services.
 Size: A minicomputer and its peripheral equipment can usually fill a
small room. A minicomputer typically about the size and shape of a
wardrobe, mounted in a single tall rack.
Use of Miniframe Computers
 Minicomputers are commonly used as servers like a small mainframe in

a network environment and hundreds of users can be connected to the
network with a minicomputer at a time.
 Miniframe Computer Uses The minicomputers are used in business,
education and many other government departments. They are also
widely used in industrial and small business application.
 39.Miniframe Computer Examples: IBM’s AS 400, Hewlett Packard
HP 3000 series, Data General’s MV/1500 etc.
Super Computers
 Super computer is a large computer or collection of computers

that act as one large computer capable of processing enormous
amounts of data. They are the fastest and most powerful type
of computers. Size: -A minicomputer and its peripheral
equipment can usually fill a small room. A minicomputer
typically about the size and shape of a wardrobe, mounted in a
single tall rack.
Functions of Super Computers
 A super computer can execute one instruction in Pico-seconds

(thousand-billionth of a second). Mostly they are based on the
principle of parallel processing. They have extraordinary high
speed due to the use of several processors connected in parallel.
 Columbiais a supercomputer built by Silicon Graphics for
NASA. Its main purpose was to simulate the violent collision
and merger of spiral galaxies.
Super Computers
 Super Computer is composed of 10,240 processors. It has 20 terabytes

of Random-access memory, 440 terabytes of storage, and 10 petabytes
of archive storage.
 Super Computer Uses Super computers are normally used in large
organizations, research laboratories, aerospace centers, large industrial
units, atomic reactors or the places where very high processing speed
is required.
 Super Computer Examples: Cray 1, Cray 2 Cray XMP and CYBER
205
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TYPES OF COMPUTERS

 Computer Types Computer can be divided into different

 On the basis of Configuration

 On the basis of Configuration

Analog Computer Analog computers are designed to measure

 Uses of Analog Computer:- The output of an analog computer is often

Digital Computer Digital computers are designed to perform

 Word processing is the most common application for personal

 Industrial computers save considerable time and reduce

 Hybrid Computer A computer which possesses

 Examples of Hybrid Computers:-

 Micro Computer Size: A personal computer can be placed

 MicroComputers are being widely accepted and used in

 A laptopcomputer (also known as notebook computer) is a

 Laptopscontain components that are similar to those in their

 Laptops are generally popular among students, travelers and

 Palmtop Computer are

 The primary input device of a PDA is the stylus. A stylus is

 Mainframe Computer:-A mainframe (also known as "big

 Historically,mainframes have been associated with centralized

 Minicomputers were first introduced in early 1960s. A minicomputer is

 Minicomputers are commonly used as servers like a small mainframe in

 Super computer is a large computer or collection of computers

 A super computer can execute one instruction in Pico-seconds

 Super Computer is composed of 10,240 processors. It has 20 terabytes

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