2006: Apple introduces the MacBook Pro, its first Intel-based, dual-core mobile computer, as well as an Intel-

based iMac. Nintendo's Wii game console hits the market.

2007: The iPhone brings many computer functions to the smartphone.

2009: Microsoft launches Windows 7, which offers the ability to pin applications to the taskbar and advances in
touch and handwriting recognition, among other features.

2010: Apple unveils the iPad, changing the way consumers view media and jumpstarting the dormant tablet
computer segment.

2011: Google releases the Chromebook, a laptop that runs the Google Chrome OS.

2012: Facebook gains 1 billion users on October 4.

2016: The first reprogrammable quantum computer was created. "Until now, there hasn't been any quantum-
computing platform that had the capability to program new algorithms into their system. They're usually each
tailored to attack a particular algorithm," said study lead author Shantanu Debnath, a quantum physicist and optical
engineer at the University of Maryland, College Park.

2017: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing a new "Molecular Informatics"
program that uses molecules as computers. "Chemistry offers a rich set of properties that we may be able to harness
for rapid, scalable information storage and processing," Anne Fischer, program manager in DARPA's Defense
Sciences Office, said in a statement. "Millions of molecules exist, and each molecule has a unique three-dimensional
atomic structure as well as variables such as shape, size, or even color. This richness provides a vast design space for
exploring novel and multi-value ways to encode and process data beyond the 0s and 1s of current logic-based,
digital architectures."

Last week at CES, Razer unveiled its most recent prototype, a three-screen laptop. As we discussed, this has become
something of a CES tradition for the peripheral manufacturer, so we weren’t surprised to see the company showing
off an unusual piece of kit. What was unusual was that someone walked off with both laptop prototypes at some
point towards the end of the show. Razer has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of
the laptops, but we haven’t seen any public announcements about a culprit since. Now, it seems that whoever
walked off with the laptops is trying to unload them. Geek.com reports that the laptops have been listed on the
Chinese website Taobao, where the thief is offering the laptops for the not-at-all crazy price of $21,733. It’s not
clear what Razer can do from here — presumably Taobao has its own terms of service prohibiting the sale of stolen
goods, and we doubt the e-commerce company wants any part of a comparatively high-profile theft. If you need a
laptop with support for multiple displays, there are small portable displays designed to run over USB3 or that use
existing standards like HDMI, VGA, or DisplayPort. These panels tend to be small and they don’t offer 4K
(1366×768 or 1920×1080 are common resolutions), but they also don’t cost five figures. As an added bonus, you
can carry them around without worrying that someone will notice you’re carrying one of two prototype laptops
stolen from a major trade show that you probably didn’t get from an authorized source.

Razer hasn’t said yet if it will commercialize Project Valerie. But between the initial unveil and the thefts, the
company has gotten more than enough press to determine whether there’s demand for the concept. The idea isn’t
trivial — a triple-screen laptop will, by necessity, be significantly heavier and more power-hungry than a standard
design. That will limit the platform to certain markets, though it’s possible that Razer could further modify the idea
by making the screens detachable, or allowing the user to power certain displays at certain times without
compromising the laptop design.

There are also some practical design elements to consider — how much wear and tear can the screen extension and
retraction mechanism take, and what are the damage pitfalls associated with having a laptop that much wider than an
ordinary system? These are the kinds of small issues that can collectively turn a product from a must-have into a
flawed take on a good idea. Razer will need to figure them out before deciding if a workstation-class triple system is
worth the cost to bring it to market.

2018:

2019

The fifth generation computers are in their development phase. They would be capable of massive parallel
processing, support voice recognition and understand natural language. The current advancements in computer
technology are likely to transform computing machines into intelligent ones that possess self organizing skills. The
evolution of computers will continue, perhaps till the day their processing powers equal human intelligence.

Since the advent of the first computerdifferent types and sizes of computers are offering different services. Computers
can be as big as occupying a large building and as small as a laptop or a microcontroller in mobile & embedded
systems.

The four basic types of computers are as under:

 Supercomputer

The most powerful computers in terms of performance and data processing are the Supercomputers. These are
specialized and task specific computers used by large organizations. These computers are used for research and
exploration purposes, like NASA uses supercomputers for launching space shuttles, controlling them and for space
exploration purpose.

Since the advent of the first computerdifferent types and sizes of computers are offering different services.
Computers can be as big as occupying a large building and as small as a laptop or a microcontroller in mobile
& embedded systems.

The four basic types of computers are as under:

2. Mainframe Computer

3. Minicomputer

4. Microcomputer

 Supercomputer

The most powerful computers in terms of performance and data processing are the Supercomputers. These are
specialized and task specific computers used by large organizations. These computers are used for research and
exploration purposes, like NASA uses supercomputers for launching space shuttles, controlling them and for space
exploration purpose.

The supercomputers are very expensive and very large in size. It can be accommodated in large air-conditioned
rooms; some super computers can span an entire building.

See Also: Top ten Supercomputers with HD pictures

Seymour Cray designed the first Supercomputer "CDC 6600" in 1964. CDC 6600 is known as the first ever
Supercomputer.

Exascale Supercomputer

On 29th July, 2015, President of the United States, Barack Obama, approved the development of an Exascale Super
Computer. The Exascale Super computer will be 30 times faster and more powerful than today’s fastest Super
Computers. The need to develop such a high performance Supercomputer comes after China’s surge in high
performance computing. However, the US still tops the list of Supercomputers with 233 high performance
machines. China has 37 Supercomputers but they lead the list of the most powerful and high performance
supercomputers since June 2013.

Uses of Supercomputers

In Pakistan Supercomputers are used by Educational Institutes like NUST for research purposes. Pakistan Atomic
Energy commission & Heavy Industry Taxila uses supercomputers for Research purposes.

Space Exploration

Supercomputers are used to study the origin of the universe, the dark-matters. For these studies scientist use IBM’s
powerful supercomputer “Roadrunner” at National Laboratory Los Alamos.

Earthquake studies

Supercomputers are used to study the Earthquakes phenomenon. Besides that supercomputers are used for natural
resources exploration, like natural gas, petroleum, coal, etc.

Weather Forecasting

Supercomputers are used for weather forecasting, and to study the nature and extent of Hurricanes, Rainfalls,
windstorms, etc.

Nuclear weapons testing

Popular Supercomputers

IBM’s Sequoia, in United States

Fujitsu’s K Computer in Japan

IBM’s Mira in United States

IBM’s SuperMUC in Germany

NUDT Tianhe-1A in China

 Mainframe Computer

 Minicomputer

Minicomputers are used by small businesses & firms. Minicomputers are also called as “Midrange Computers”.
These are small machines and can be accommodated on a disk with not as processing and data storage capabilities as
super-computers & Mainframes. These computers are not designed for a single user. Individual departments of a
large company or organizations use Mini-computers for specific purposes. For example, a production department
can use Mini-computers for monitoring certain production process.

Popular Minicomputers

K-202

Texas Instrument TI-990

SDS-92

IBM Midrange computers

 Microcomputer
Desktop computers, laptops, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablets & smartphones are all types of
microcomputers. The micro-computers are widely used & the fastest growing computers. These computers are the
cheapest among the other three types of computers. The Micro-computers are specially designed for general usage
like entertainment, education and work purposes. Well known manufacturers of Micro-computer are Dell, Apple,
Samsung, Sony & Toshiba.

Desktop computers, Gaming consoles, Sound & Navigation system of a car, Netbooks, Notebooks, PDA’s,
Tablet PC’s, Smartphones, Calculators are all type of Microcomputers.