CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

On the basis of working principle

*Analog Computer

Analog computer measures continuous types of data and uses a phusical quantity like, electric current, voltage, temperature, etc. to present and process the data. The assign numeric values by physically measuring some actual property. Such as the length of an object, an angle of created by two lines, amount of voltage passing through a point in an electric circuit. E.g. Thermometer, multi meter, speedometer, fuel and price indicator in petrol pumps, etc.

*Digital Computer

The computer based on binary digits i.e. 0 and 1 are called digital computer. It represents each and every information (number, letters and other special symbols). In terms of single numbers (0 and 1) and process these information using standard arithmetic operations.

*Hybrid Computer (analog + digital)

*Combination of the features of analog and digital computer

*Can do all types of tasks of digital and analog

*Mostly used for scientific research, industrial application, airplane, etc.

                                 On the basis of size

*Mainframe Computer

⦁ Large computer which process at high speed and occupies a large space

⦁ Has large capacity to handle huge numbers of records.

⦁ More than 100 people can work at a time and communicate with different countries with WAN via satellite.

⦁ Generally used in large scale organizations and government offices for large scale data processing

⦁ Can be seen in the Universities, Institute of engineering and scientific research centers.

⦁ In one word, a large computer, usually designed to serve a number of remote terminals is called mainframe computer.

*Super computer

⦁Capable of working at a very high/great speed and can thus process a very large amount of data with in an acceptable time.

⦁Used in designing complicated machines as supersonic jets, space research and picture composition for movies films and for weather forecasting.

⦁Have the largest, fastest and most expensive system in the world.

                    e.g. CRAY-I,/II,III, VYBER-205, HITACHI-810/20

*Mini computer

1. Medium is size, but larger than micro computers, intended to support multiple users.

2. less powerful than super and mainframe computer

3. used for data processing, programming, etc.

*Micro computer

⦁ Used in many fields of business, education, desktop and graphic designing, data processing etc.

⦁ Sub category:

⦁ Desktop

⦁ Laptop

⦁ Palmtop/digital diary/ notebook

                            On the basis of brand

*IBM PC

⦁One of the leading company in computer history

⦁Microcomputer of IBM company

*IBM compatible

a. computers, developed on the principles of IBM computers are called IBM compatible

b. can perform all the tasks that an IBM computer does.

c. less expensive than original (IBM) computers.

*Apple Macintosh

a. expensive than IBM and IBM compatible

b. OS and other peripherals are completely different than IBM and IBM compatibles.