CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
The classification of computers is based on the following
three categories:-
(1) According to Purpose
(2) According to technology used
(3) According to size and capacity.
💢According to Purpose :
– According to the utilization of compute for different uses, computers
are of following two types:-
(i) General Purpose Computers
:– Computers that follow
instructions for general requirement such as sales analysis, financial accounting,
invoicing, inventory, management information etc are called general purpose
computers. Almost all computers used in offices for commercial, educational and
other applications are general purpose computers.
(ii) Special purpose
computers :– Computers designed
from scratch to perform special tasks like scientific applications and
research, weather forecasting, medical diagnostic etc are called special
purpose computers.
💢According to technology used :–
according to the technology used, computes are of following three types
:–
(i) Analog computers :– Analog computers are special purpose computers that represent
and store data in continuously verifying physical quantities such as current,
voltage or frequency. These computers are programmed for measuring physical
quantities like temperature, speed etc and to perform computations on these
measurements. Analog computers are mainly used for scientific and engineering
applications. Some of the examples of analog computers are given below:–
a) Thermometer :– temperature. It is a simple analog
computer used to measure
b) Speedometer :– Car's speedometer is another example of
analog computer. Where the position of the needle on dial represents the speed
of the car.
(ii) Digital Computers :– Digital computers are mainly general purpose
computers that represent and store data in discrete quantities or numbers. In
these computers, all processing is done in terms of numeric representation
(Binary digits) of data and information. Although the user enters data in
decimal or character form, it is converted into binary digits (O's and I's).
Almost all the computers used now days are digital computers.
(iii) Hybrid Computers :– Hybrid computers combine the technology of both
analog and digital computers. These computers store and process analog signals
which have been converted into discrete numbers using analog-to- digital
converters. They can also convert the digital numbers into analog signals or
physical properties using digital to analog converters. Hybrid computers are
faster than analog computers but much slower than digital computers. It finds
applications are special areas.
💢According to size and capacity :– According
to size and memory/storage capacity, computers are of following four types :–
⏭ Super Computers :– Super computers are the biggest and fastest
computer, which is mainly designed for complex scientific applications. It has
many CPUs (central processing units- main part of computer) which operate in parallel
to make it as a fastest computer. These computers are very expensive and more
powerful than mainframe computers. It is typically used fall the following
applications:- · Weather forecasting · Petroleum Exploration and production ·
Energy Mgt · Defense · Nuclear Energy Research · Weapons research and
development · Earthquake prediction (seismology) PARAM and ANURAG are Super
Computers produced by India. CRAY3, CRAY-XMP 14, NEC 500, are the another
example of super computers.
⏭ Mainframe Computer :– Mainframe computers are very large and fast
computers but smaller and slower the super computers. These are used in a
centralized location where 253 many terminals (Input/Output devices) are
connected with one CPU and thus, allow different users to share the single CPU.
They have a very high memory (several hundred megabytes) and can support
thousands of users. These computers are faster and more powerful than
minicomputers. They are mainly used for following applications:- ·
Railway and Airline Reservations
Banking Applications ·
Commercial Applications of large industries/companies
Some examples of Mainframe Computers are- MEDHA Series, DEC,
IBM 3090, IBM 4381, IBM 4300 and IBM ES-9000.
⏭ Mini Computer: - Minicomputers are medium scale, smaller
and generally slower than mainframe computers. Like Mainframes, they have many
terminals which are connected with one CPU and can support many users. The cost
of minicomputer is very less as compared to mainframe. These computers are
faster and more powerful than microcomputers. These computers are suitable for
medium class organizations, banks, data processing centers etc. Some of the
examples of minicomputers are PDP-1, IBM AS/400, and DEC MICRO VAX, IBM AS/400
is actually a midi computer (computer with performance between a mainframe and
minicomputer)isbecoming very popular among minicomputers.
⏭ Micro Computers :– It is a low cost small digital computer. This
type of compute contains a microprocessor as its CPU, a memory Unit, Input and
Output device. These are also called personal computer system. Maximum speed of
micro computers is up to 1 million bytes per second. These types of computers
can be used to play games, teach children math, make a painting, create net
musical sounds etc. They are very inexpensive families or home business can
afford to buy a small system to use at home. Micro-Computers can be classified
into the following tow categories:- ·
⏭ Desktop Micro Computes :-Portable
Micro Computers Desktop Micro Computers :– Common type of Micro Computes, which
can easily be accommodated on the top of a desk, is called desktop computers.
The usage of such computers is quite common is offices, markets, homes etc.
⏭ Portable Micro Computers
:– These Computes are small
is size and looks like a briefcase o a notebook. They are very light in weight
and easy to carry from one place to another. They use batteries or electronic
current. Examples of these computers are :–
Laptop Computers
Notebook Computers
⇒Laptop Computers sometimes called briefcase computes,
can be used on your lap and are very portable. Like a desktop computers, laptop
computers have a full typewriter keyboard. Laptop computers can be connected to
larger peripherals. For example- A regular size printer or a large monitor etc.
⇒Notebook Computes are smaller is size than laptop
computers. These computers are idle for user who has to wok away from their
offices. The users of these computers might be a student, a journalist and a
salesman etc. Example-IBM ThinkPad.
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