L 12 Types of Computer

1. Types of Computer Dr Anita Choudhary Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science anitach312@gmail.com

2. Table of Content

3. Computer • A computer is an electronic device that has storage, computations, input (data), output (data) and networking capabilities. With the growing AI, computers also have learning capabilities from the data provided. The input and output data can be in different forms like text, images, audio and video. A computer processes the input according to the set of instructions provided to it by the user and gives the desired output. Computers are of various types and they can be categorized in two ways on the basis of size and on the basis of data handling capabilities.

4. Different Types of Computers Broadly, computers can classify based on: (a) The data handling capabilities and the way they perform the signal processing, and (b) Size, in terms of capacities and speed of operation. (c) On the basis of their uses.

5. Types of Computer There are two bases on which we can define the types of computers. We will discuss the type of computers on the basis of size and data handling capabilities. We will discuss each type of computer in detail. Let’s see first what are the types of computers. • Super Computer • Mainframe computer • Mini Computer • Workstation Computer • Personal Computer (PC) • Server Computer • Analog Computer • Digital Computer • Hybrid Computer • Tablets and Smartphone

6. 1 Analog Computer Analog Computers are particularly designed to process analog data. Continuous data that changes continuously and cannot have discrete values are called analog data. So, an analog computer is used where we don’t need exact values or need approximate values such as speed, temperature, pressure, etc. • It can directly accept the data from the measuring device without first converting it into numbers and codes. It measures the continuous changes in physical quantity. It gives output as a reading on a dial or scale. • Analogcomputer may be used in scientific and industrial applications such as to measure the electric current, frequency and resistance of the capacitor, etc.. • Analogue computers directly accept the data in the measuring device without first converting it into codes and numbers. • Cases of analogue computer are temperature, pressure, telephone lines, Speedometer, immunity of capacitor, frequency of signal and voltage, etc..

7. One advantage of analog computation is that it may be relatively simple to design and build an analog computer to solve a single problem. • Another advantage is that analog computers can frequently represent and solve a problem in “real time”; that is, the computation proceeds at the same rate as the system being modeled by it. • Their main disadvantages are that analog representations are limited in precision—typically a few decimal places but fewer in complex mechanisms—and general-purpose devices are expensive and not easily programmed.

8. 2 Digital Computer • Digital computers are designed in such a way that they can easily perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. It takes raw data as input and processes it with programs stored in its memory to produce the final output. It only understands the binary input 0 and 1, so the raw input data is converted to 0 and 1 by the computer and then it is processed by the computer to produce the result or final output. All modern computers, like laptops, desktops including smartphones are digital computers.

9. 3 Hybrid Computer • The Hybrid Computer Is A Combination Of Both Analog And Digital Computers. Hybrid Computers Are Fast Like Analog Computers And Have Memory And Accuracy Like Digital Computers. So, It Has The Ability To Process Both Continuous And Discrete Data. For Working When It Accepts Analog Signals As Input Then It Converts Them Into Digital Form Before Processing The Input Data. So, It Is Widely Used In Specialized Applications Where Both Analog And Digital Data Are Required To Be Processed. A Processor Which Is Used In Petrol Pumps That Converts The Measurements Of Fuel Flow Into Quantity And Price Is An Example Of A Hybrid Computer. 

10. Different kinds and sizes of computer • Since the coming of the very first computer, different kinds and sizes of machines are providing various services. Computers are often as large as inhabiting a massive building as little as a notebook or even a microcontroller in embedded or mobile systems. • Computers can be generally classified by kind or size and power as follows, although there’s considerable overlap.

11. Supercomputer • They are the biggest and fastest computers (in terms of speed of processing data). Supercomputers are designed such that they can process a huge amount of data, like processing trillions of instructions or data just in a second. This is because of the thousands of interconnected processors in supercomputers. It is basically used in scientific and engineering applications such as weather forecasting, scientific simulations, and nuclear energy research. It was first developed by Roger Cray in 1976. • The calculating Performance of a supercomputer quantified in FLOPS (which is floating-point operations per minute) rather than MIPS.

12. Characteristics of Supercomputers • Supercomputers are the computers that are the fastest and they are also very expensive. • It can calculate up to ten trillion individual calculations per second, this is also the reason which makes it even faster. • It is used in the stock market or big organizations for managing the online currency world such as Bitcoin etc. • It is used in scientific research areas for analyzing data obtained from exploring the solar system, satellites, etc.

13. Mainframe computer • Mainframe computers are designed in such a way that they can support hundreds or thousands of users at the same time. It also supports multiple programs simultaneously. So, they can execute different processes simultaneously. All these features make the mainframe computer ideal for big organizations like banking, telecom sectors, etc., which process a high volume of data in general. • These computers came to be called mainframes, though the term did not become common until smaller computers were built. Mainframe computers were characterized by having (for their time) large storage capabilities, fast components, and powerful computational abilities. • They were highly reliable, and, because they frequently served vital needs in an organization, they were sometimes designed with redundant components that let them survive partial failures. 

14. Characteristics of Mainframe Computers • It is also an expensive or costly computer. • It has high storage capacity and great performance. • It can process a huge amount of data (like data involved in the banking sector) very quickly. • It runs smoothly for a long time and has a long life.

15. Minicomputer Minicomputer is a medium size multiprocessing computer. In this type of computer, there are two or more processors, and it supports 4 to 200 users at one time. Minicomputer is similar to Microcontroller. Minicomputers are used in places like institutes or departments for different work like billing, accounting, inventory management, etc. It is smaller than a mainframe computer but larger in comparison to the microcomputer. Characteristics of Minicomputer • Its weight is low. • Because of its low weight, it is easy to carry anywhere. • less expensive than a mainframe computer. • It is fast.

16. Microcomputer A microcomputer is a small computer built around a microprocessor integrated circuit, or chip. Whereas the early minicomputers replaced vacuum tubes with discrete transistors, microcomputers (and later minicomputers as well) used microprocessors that integrated thousands or millions of transistors on a single chip. In 1971 the Intel Corporation produced the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, which was powerful enough to function as a computer although it was produced for use in a Japanese-made calculator. In 1975 the first personal computer, the Altair, used a successor chip, the Intel 8080 microprocessor. Like minicomputers, early microcomputers had relatively limited storage and data-handling capabilities, but these have grown as storage technology has improved alongside processing power.

17. Workstation Computer A workstation computer is designed for technical or scientific applications. It consists of a fast microprocessor, with a large amount of RAM and a high-speed graphic adapter. It is a single-user computer. It is generally used to perform a specific task with great accuracy. • Characteristics of Workstation Computer • It is expensive or high in cost. • They are exclusively made for complex work purposes. • It provides large storage capacity, better graphics, and a more powerful CPU when compared to a PC. • It is also used to handle animation, data analysis, CAD, audio and video creation, and editing.

18. Personal Computer (PC) Personal Computers is also known as a microcomputer. It is basically a general-purpose computer designed for individual use. It consists of a microprocessor as a central processing unit(CPU), memory, input unit, and output unit. This kind of computer is suitable for personal work such as making an assignment, watching a movie, or at the office for office work, Characteristics of Personal Computer (PC) • In this limited number of software can be used. • It is the smallest in size. • It is designed for personal use. • It is easy to use. For example, Laptops and desktop computers.

19. Server Computer • Server Computers are computers that are combined data and programs. Electronic data and applications are stored and shared in the server computer. The working of a server computer is that it does not solve a bigger problem like a supercomputer but it solves many smaller similar ones. Examples of server computer are like Wikipedia, as when users put a request for any page, it finds what the user is looking for and sends it to the user.

20. Tablet and Smartphones • Tablets and Smartphones are the types of computers that are pocket friendly and easy to carry is these are handy. This is one of the best use of modern technology. These devices have better hardware capabilities, extensive operating systems, and better multimedia functionality. smartphones and tablets contain a number of sensors and are also able to provide wireless communication protocols.

21. General Purpose Computer • A general-purpose computer is a computer consisted of to carries out several tasks. A personal computer is one kind of general-purpose computer. A general-purpose system may run various kinds of programs and also it can perform a wide range of jobs with significant versatility. Software may be installed, updated and removed with ease, altering the functionality of the system. • The von Neumann architecture provides as the foundation for how a general-purpose computer functions. The central processing unit (CPU) carries out computations, carries out instructions read from memory and handles the computer system as a whole.

22. Special Purpose Computer There are various classes of computer systems based on their computational speed, usage, and hardware. The following are some special-purpose systems according to specific applications. They use: • Real-time embedded systems Multimedia systems • Multimedia systems • Handheld and portable systems Astrophysics on the GRAPE Family of Special-Purpose Computers

23. Difference Between General Purpose Computer and Special Purpose Computer

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