Types of

Computers
Efforts by - Himanshu Khanna
Roll Number - 21722756
1.)By Type
a) Analog Computers-:
Analog computers are used to process analog data.
Analog data is of continuous nature and which is not
discrete or separate. Such type of data includes
temperature, pressure, speed weight, voltage, depth etc.
These quantities are continuous and having an infinite
variety of values.
It measures continuous changes in some physical quantity
e.g. The Speedometer of a car measures speed, the
change of temperature is measured by a Thermometer,
the weight is measured by Weights machine. These
computers are ideal in situations where data can be
accepted directly from measuring instrument without
having to convert it into numbers or codes.
b) Digital Computers-:
A Digital Computer, as its name implies, works with
digits to represent numerals, letters or other special
symbols. Digital Computers operate on inputs which are
ON-OFF type and its output is also in the form of ON-
OFF signal. Normally, an ON is represented by a 1 and
an OFF is represented by a 0. So we can say that digital
computers process information which is based on the
presence or the absence of an electrical charge or we
prefer to say a binary 1 or 0.
A digital computer can be used to process numeric as
well as non-numeric data. It can perform arithmetic
operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division and also logical operations. Most of the
computers available today are digital computers. The
most common examples of digital computers are
accounting machines and calculators.
c) Hybrid Computers-:
A hybrid is a combination of digital and analog
computers. It combines the best features of both types of
computers. It has the speed of analog computer and the
memory and accuracy of digital computer. Hybrid
computers are used mainly in specialized applications
where both kinds of data need to be processed.
Therefore, they help the user, to process both continuous
and discrete data. For example a petrol pump contains a
processor that converts fuel flow measurements into
quantity and price values. In hospital Intensive Care Unit
(ICU), an analog device is used which measures patient’s
blood pressure and temperature etc, which are then
converted and displayed in the form of digits. Hybrid
computers for example are used for scientific calculations,
in defense and radar systems.
2.) By Size
a) Micro Computers-:
The smallest among them are micro computers. They
are small in physical size (most of them are desktop
system; however, notebook micro computers that can
fit into a briefcase are also available). They are
economical in terms of costs and are friendly in use.
Personal computers (PCs) fall into this category.
These computers can be used for small data processing
jobs of bigger companies or serve as complete
computer systems for small firms. PC can also be
connected with bigger computers and be used as an
intelligent terminal to a bigger computer.
b) Mini computers-:
Mini computers are very popular among medium sized
companies. Mini computers offer facilities for faster
processing of voluminous information. Mini computers,
of course, are bigger than microcomputers but smaller
than most of their elders called mainframes.
They cost somewhere between Rs. 5 to 15 lac depending
upon the configuration. However, these prices are only
indicative and are subject to substantial changes over
time. The mini computers like VAX 8000 series from
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and AS/400
series from IBM have been quite popular in computer
aided manufacturing, as well as departmental computers.
c) Mainframes-:
Mainframes are bigger computers, capable of handling
data processing needs of, say, head office of a bank, or a
big multinational company or may be a public utility office.
Mainframe computer systems have larger storage and the
speed of processing is also very high.
They also offer the advantage of wider choice with regard
to up-gradation of the system in future. They offer
features such as parallel processing. The parallel processing
involves combining a large number of processors that
break down an application into many separate parts in
order to enhance processing speed.
d) Super Computers-:
Super computers are on the higher end of mainframe
computers. They offer tremendous computing power and
are being used primarily in scientific research and
forecasting. For example, Cray T3E-900 series of
computers are packed with computing powers that are
incomparable to any big mainframe.
Supercomputers have a speed of between 100 to 900
MIPS. They are quite expensive and cost somewhere
around 10-30 million dollars depending upon the
configuration.
3.)By Purpose
a) General-Purpose computers-:
Most computers in use today are those built for a great variety
of processing jobs. Simply by using a general purpose
computer and different software, various tasks can be
accomplished, including writing and editing (word processing),
manipulating facts in a data base, tracking manufacturing
inventory, making scientific calculations, or even controlling
organization’s security system, electricity consumption, and
building temperature. General purpose computers are
designed to perform a wide variety of functions and
operations. A general purpose computer is able to perform a
wide variety of operations because it can store and execute
different programs in its internal storage. Unfortunately,
having this ability is often achieved at the expense of speed
and efficiency. In most situations, however, you will find that
having this flexibility makes this compromise a most
acceptable one.
b) Special-Purpose Computer-:
These are designed to be task specific and most of the times
their job is to solve one particular problem. They are also
known as dedicated computers, because they are dedicated to
perfom a single task over and over again. Such a computer
system would be useful in playing graphic intensive video
games, traffic lights control system, navigational system in an
aircraft, weather forecasting, satellite launch / tracking, oil
exploration. While a special purpose computer may have many
of the same features found in a general purpose computer, its
applicability to a particular problem is a function of its design
rather than to a stored program. The instructions that control it
are built directly into the computer, which makes for a more
efficient and effective operation. They perform only one
function and therefore cut down on the amount of memory
needed and also the amount of information which can be input
into them.