Classes of computers: Difference between revisions

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Computers can be classified, or typed, many ways. Some common classifications are summarized below. For others see Category:Classes of computers.

Microcomputers (Personal computers)

Microcomputers are the most common type of computers in existence today, whether at work in school or on the desk at home. The term "microcomputer" was introduced with the advent of single chip microprocessors. The term "microcomputer" itself, is now practically an anachronism.

These computers include:

Desktop computers
Personal digital assistants (more commonly known as PDA's)
Palmtop computers
Tablet PC
Laptop and notebook computers

Minicomputers (Midrange computers)

A minicomputer (colloquially, mini) is a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the largest multi-user systems (mainframe computers) and the smallest single-user systems (microcomputers or personal computers). The contemporary term for this class of system is midrange computer, such as the higher-end SPARC, POWER and Itanium -based systems from Sun Microsystems, IBM and Hewlett-Packard.

Mainframe Computers

The term mainframe computer was created to distinguish the traditional, large, institutional computer intended to service multiple users from the smaller, single user machines. These computers are capable of handling and processing very large amounts of data quickly. Mainframe computers are used in large institutions such as government, banks and large corporations. These institutions were early adopters of computer use, long before personal computers were available to individuals. "Mainframe" often refers to computers compatible with the computer architectures established in the 1960s. Thus, the origin of the architecture also affects the classification, not just processing power.

Classes by function

Servers

Server usually refer to a computer that is dedicated to providing a service. For example, a computer dedicated to a database may be called a "database server". "File servers" manage a large collection of computer files. "Web servers" process web pages and web applications. Many smaller servers are actually personal computers that have been dedicated to providing services for other computers.

Workstation

Workstations are computers that are intended to serve one user and may contain special hardware enhancements not found on a personal computer.

Embedded computers

Embedded computers are computers that are a part of a machine or device. Embedded computers generally execute a program that is stored in non-volatile memory and is only intended to operate a specific machine or device. Embedded computers are very common. Embedded computers are typically required to operate continuously without being reset or rebooted, and once employed in their task the software usually cannot be modified. An automobile may contain a number of embedded computers; however, a washing machine and a DVD player would contain only one. The central processing units (CPUs) used in embedded computers are often sufficient only for the computational requirements of the specific application and may be slower and less expensive than CPUs found in a personal computer.

Supercomputer

A supercomputer is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical calculations such as weather forecasting, simulations or complex computations. The distinction between supercomputers and mainframes can be difficult to define at times. Supercomputers tend to focus on floating point performance. Mainframes, while providing a lot of processing power, focus more on data throughput and reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS), and generally perform many data handling operations involving minor computations.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Cleanup|date=April 2007}}
-Computers can be classified, or typed, many ways.  Some common classifications are summarized below.  For others see [[:Category:Classes of computers]].
+[[Computer]]s can be classified, or typed, many ways.  Some common classifications are summarized below.  For others see [[:Category:Classes of computers]].
-==Microcomputers==
+== Microcomputers (Personal computers) ==
 <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:dell dimension 8400.jpg|thumb|205px|A [[Dell]] desktop computer, the prime example of a micro computer]] -->
-[[Microcomputer]]s are the most common type of computers in existence today, whether at work in school or on the desk at home.  The term "microcomputer" was introduced with the advent of single chip [[Integrated circuit#SSI, MSI, LSI|large scale integrated circuit]] computer processors. The term "microcomputer" itself, is now practically an anachronism.
+[[Microcomputer]]s are the most common type of computers in existence today, whether at work in school or on the desk at home.  The term "microcomputer" was introduced with the advent of single chip [[microprocessor]]s.  The term "microcomputer" itself, is now practically an anachronism.
 These computers include:
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === Servers ===
-[[computer server|Server]] usually refer to a computer that is dedicated to providing a service. For example, a large computer dedicated to a database may be called a "database server". "File servers" manage a large collection of computer files. "Web servers" process web pages and web applications. Many smaller servers are actually personal computers that have been dedicated to providing services for other personal computers.
+[[computer server|Server]] usually refer to a computer that is dedicated to providing a service. For example, a computer dedicated to a [[database]] may be called a "[[database server]]". "[[File server]]s" manage a large collection of [[computer file]]s. "[[Web server]]s" process [[web page]]s and [[web application]]s. Many smaller servers are actually personal computers that have been dedicated to providing services for other computers.
 === Workstation ===
-Workstations are computers that are intended to serve one user and may contain special hardware enhancements not found on a personal computer. <!-- (These statements ignore the application of workstations to distributed process control systems and specialized functions such as video animation.  Some workstations were created by extending the function of PCs.)  In the mid 1990s, most software vendors dropped support for these machines, as personal computers reached the processing capabilities of Mini computers and Workstations. Also, with the release of [[Windows NT]] and Linux, the operating systems of personal computers could do the job of this class of machines. Very few machines today are made in this class. -->
+[[Workstation]]s are computers that are intended to serve one user and may contain special hardware enhancements not found on a personal computer. <!-- (These statements ignore the application of workstations to distributed process control systems and specialized functions such as video animation.  Some workstations were created by extending the function of PCs.)  In the mid 1990s, most software vendors dropped support for these machines, as personal computers reached the processing capabilities of Mini computers and Workstations. Also, with the release of [[Windows NT]] and Linux, the operating systems of personal computers could do the job of this class of machines. Very few machines today are made in this class. -->
-=== Portable Data Entry Terminals ===
+=== Embedded computers ===
-<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:pdet.jpg|thumb|205px|This is an example of a PEDT]] -->
+[[Embedded system|Embedded computers]] are computers that are a part of a machine or device. Embedded computers generally execute a [[program]] that is stored in [[Non-volatile memory|non-volatile memory]] and is only intended to operate a specific machine or device. Embedded computers are very common. Embedded computers are typically required to operate continuously without being reset or rebooted, and once employed in their task the software usually cannot be modified. An automobile may contain a number of embedded computers; however, a washing machine and a DVD player would contain only one. The [[central processing unit]]s (CPUs) used in embedded computers are often sufficient only for the computational requirements of the specific application and may be
-Portable data entry terminals (more commonly known as PDET's) are handheld devices that are used to record or capture data away from the host computer that they are connected to.
+slower and less expensive than CPUs found in a personal computer.
-Examples of PEDT's include
-* [[Barcode readers]]
-* [[Gas Meter]]
-* [[Optical mark readers]] (as in lottery ticket readers)
-* [[Optical character recognition]]
-* [[Scanner]]
-* [[Graphics tablet]]
-* [[Magnetic stripe reader]]
-=== Embedded computer systems ===
-Embedded computers are computers that are a part of a machine or device. This [[computer]] runs a [[program]] that is stored in non-volatile memory and is only intended to operate a specific machine or device. Embedded computers are very common. Embedded systems are typically required to operate continuously without being reset or rebooted, and once employed in their task the software usually cannot be modified. An automobile may contain a number of [[Embedded system]]s; however, a washing machine and a DVD player would contain only one. The CPUs used are slower and less expensive than those found in a personal computer, but they generally only have to conduct a single function.
 == Supercomputer ==
-A supercomputer is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical calculations such as weather forecasting, simulations or complex computations. The distinction between supercomputers and mainframes can be difficult to define at times. Supercomputers tend to focus on floating point performance. Mainframes, while providing a lot of processing power, focus more on data throughput and RAS, and generally perform many datahandling operations involving minor computations.
+A [[supercomputer]] is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical calculations such as weather forecasting, simulations or complex computations. The distinction between supercomputers and mainframes can be difficult to define at times. Supercomputers tend to focus on [[Floating point|floating point]] performance. Mainframes, while providing a lot of processing power, focus more on data throughput and [[Reliability, Availability and Serviceability|reliability, availability and serviceability]] (RAS), and generally perform many data handling operations involving minor computations.