Computer Terminology - Computer Types
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`Types of Computers
`Computers come in a variety of types designed for different
`purposes, with different capabilities and costs.
`Microcomputers
`A microcomputer is a computer that has a microprocessor
`chip (or multiple microprocessors) as its CPU. They are often
`called personal computers because they are designed to be
`used by one person at a time. Personal computers are typically
`used at home, at school, or at a business. Popular uses for
`microcomputers include word processing, surfing the Web,
`sending and receiving e-mail, spreadsheet calculations,
`database management, editing photographs, creating graphics,
`and playing music or games.
`Personal computers come in two major varieties, desktop
`computers and notebook computers:
`Desktop computers are larger and not meant to be portable.
`They usually sit in one place on a desk or table and are plugged
`into a wall outlet for power. The case of the computer holds the
`motherboard, drives, power supply, and expansion cards. This
`case may lay flat on the desk, or it may be a tower that stands
`vertically (on the desk or under it). The computer usually has a
`separate monitor (either a CRT or LCD) although some designs
`have a display built into the case. A separate keyboard and
`mouse allow the user to input data and commands.
`Notebook or laptop computers are small and lightweight
`enough to be carried around with the user. They run on battery
`power, but can also be plugged into a wall outlet. They typically
`have a built-in LCD display that folds down to protect the
`display when the computer is carried around. They also feature
`a built-in keyboard and some kind of built-in pointing device
`(such as a touch pad).
`While some laptops are less powerful than typical desktop
`machines, this is not true in all cases. Laptops, however, cost
`more than desktop units of equivalent processing power
`because the smaller components needed to build laptops are
`more expensive.
`There are also less-powerful versions of notebook computers
`called subnotebooks, and netbooks that are used mainly to
`access the Internet.
`Tablet Computers and Smartphones
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`Links to topics on this page:
`Tablets and Smartphones
`PDAs and Palmtops
`Workstations/Servers
`Mainframes
`Supercomputers
`Micros Everywhere!
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`Desktop personal computer
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`Notebook personal computer
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`http://www.unm.edu/~tbeach/terms/types.html
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`9/15/2015
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`Computer Terminology - Computer Types
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`Page 2 of 4
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`A Tablet Computer (often just called a tablet) generally has
`the format of a handheld slate consisting of a large LCD
`touchscreen used for both input and output. Tablets typically
`include a WiFi and/or cellular network data connection to
`access the Internet. Tablets run applications specifically
`designed for these touchscreen devices, but they also can do
`some activities such as word processing or spreadsheets,
`although the lack of a physical keyboard usually makes such
`activities more cumbersome on tablets than they are on
`desktop or notebook machines. Examples of tablet computers
`include the Apple iPad and machines from various
`manufacturers that run the Android OS.
`Smartphones are high-end mobile phones that typically run
`operating systems similar to the tablet computers discussed
`above, so they often share the same applications as tablets.
`They combine the features of a mobile phone, PDA (see below),
`camera, music player, GPS device, etc. Many smartphones use a
`touchscreen for input, but some include physical keyboards.
`PDAs and Palmtop Computers
`A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is a handheld
`microcomputer that trades off power for small size and greater
`portability. They typically use a touch-sensitive LCD screen for
`both output and input (the user draws characters and presses
`icons on the screen with a stylus). PDAs communicate with
`desktop computers and with each other either by cable
`connection, infrared (IR) beam, or radio waves. PDAs are
`normally used to keep track of appointment calendars, to-do
`lists, address books, and for taking notes.
`A palmtop or handheld PC is a very small microcomputer
`that also sacrifices power for small size and portability. These
`devices typically look more like a tiny laptop than a PDA, with a
`flip-up screen and small keyboard. They may use Windows CE
`or similar operating system for handheld devices.
`Some PDAs and palmtops contain wireless networking or cell
`phone devices so that users can check e-mail or surf the web on
`the move.
`Workstations/Servers
`A workstation is a powerful, high-end microcomputer. They
`contain one or more microprocessor CPUs. They may be used
`by a single-user for applications requiring more power than a
`typical PC (rendering complex graphics, or performing
`intensive scientific calculations).
`Alternately, workstation-class microcomputers may be used as
`server computers that supply files to client computers over a
`network or the Internet. This class of powerful microcomputers
`can also be used to handle the processing for many users
`simultaneously who are connected via terminals; in this
`
`A tablet computer (front and
`side view)
`
`Personal Digital Assistant
`
`Palmtop computer
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`Workstation computer
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`http://www.unm.edu/~tbeach/terms/types.html
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`9/15/2015
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`Computer Terminology - Computer Types
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`respect, high-end workstations have essentially supplanted the
`role of minicomputers (see below).
`Note! The term “workstation” also has an alternate meaning: In
`networking, any client computer connected to the network that
`accesses server resources may be called a workstation. Such a
`network client workstation could be a personal computer or
`even a “workstation” as defined at the top of this section. Note:
`Dumb terminals are not considered to be network workstations
`(client workstations on the network are capable of running
`programs independently of the server, but a terminal is not
`capable of independent processing).
`
`There are classes of computers that are not microcomputers.
`These include supercomputers, mainframes, and
`minicomputers.
`Minicomputers
`A minicomputer is a multi-user computer that is less
`powerful than a mainframe. This class of computers became
`available in the 1960’s when large scale integrated circuits
`made it possible to build a computer much cheaper than the
`then existing mainframes (minicomputers cost around
`$100,000 instead of the $1,000,000 cost of a mainframe).
`The niche previously filled by the minicomputer has been
`largely taken over by high-end microcomputer workstations
`serving multiple users (see above).
`Mainframes
`A mainframe computer is a large, powerful computer that
`handles the processing for many users simultaneously (up to
`several hundred users). The name mainframe originated after
`minicomputers appeared in the 1960’s to distinguish the larger
`systems from the smaller minicomputers.
`Users connect to the mainframe using terminals and submit
`their tasks for processing by the mainframe. A terminal is a
`device that has a screen and keyboard for input and output, but
`it does not do its own processing (they are also called dumb
`terminals since they can’t process data on their own). The
`processing power of the mainframe is time-shared between all
`of the users. (Note that a personal computer may be used to
`“emulate” a dumb terminal to connect to a mainframe or
`minicomputer; you run a program on the PC that pretends to
`be a dumb terminal).
`Mainframes typically cost several hundred thousand dollars.
`They are used in situations where a company wants the
`processing power and information storage in a centralized
`location. Mainframes are also now being used as high-capacity
`server computers for networks with many client workstations
`or for serving files over the Internet.
`
`Mainframe computer (this IBM
`z-series computer is about 6 feet
`tall)
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`http://www.unm.edu/~tbeach/terms/types.html
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`9/15/2015
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`Computer Terminology - Computer Types
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`Supercomputers
`A supercomputer is mainframe computer that has been
`optimized for speed and processing power. The most famous
`series of supercomputers were designed by the company
`founded and named after Seymour Cray. The Cray-1 was built
`in the 1976 and installed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
`Supercomputers are used for extremely calculation-intensive
`tasks such simulating nuclear bomb detonations, aerodynamic
`flows, and global weather patterns. A supercomputer typically
`costs several million dollars.
`Recently, some supercomputers have been constructed by
`connecting together large numbers of individual processing
`units (in some cases, these processing units are standard
`microcomputer hardware).
`Please note: All of this talk of which computers are more
`powerful than others (i.e., mainframes are more powerful than
`minicomputers, which are more powerful than
`microcomputers) is relative for any particular moment in time.
`However, all classes of computers are becoming more powerful
`with time as technology improves. The microprocessor chip in a
`handheld calculator is more powerful than the ENIAC was, and
`your desktop computer has more processing power than the
`first supercomputers did.
`
`Microprocessors Everywhere
`Computers are, in fact, all around you. Microprocessor chips
`are found in many electronic devices (in your iPod, in your
`DVD player, in your microwave, in your car, in your phone).
`These are special-purpose computers that run programs to
`control the equipment and optimize its performance.
`
`Supercomputer (this one is a
`Cray-2 from the 1980’s)
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`Copyright © 2004 by Thomas E. Beach, Ph.D.
`University of New Mexico – Los Alamos
`Last update: January 24, 2012 6:41 PM
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`http://www.unm.edu/~tbeach/terms/types.html
`
`9/15/2015