Classification of Computers

• Classification by Size/Capacity
• Classification by Type/Nature
• Classification by Purpose
 Classification by Size/Capacity
Capacity is now therefore expressed in terms
of the volume of work that the computer can
handle, the speed of processing it and
functional units of the CPU. Price and size are
also considered. In the early days of computer
development, capacity was sometimes
measured in terms of physical size
 Classification by Size/Capacity
1. Super Computers: The largest, fastest and
most powerful of the mainframes, used
primarily by governments and scientists. They
are used when organizations require
extraordinary amounts of computing power
like the weather services, airline reservations
etc. E.g. CRAY Research :- CRAY-1 & CRAY-
2, Fujitsu (VP2000), Hitachi (S820), NEC
(SX20), PARAM 10000 by C-DAC, Anupam
by BARC, PACE Series by DRDO
 Classification by Size/Capacity
The characteristics are:
• Most powerful Computer system - needs a large
room
• Minimum word length is 64 bits
• CPU speed: 100 MIPS
• Equivalent to 4000 computers
• High cost: 4 – 5 millions
• Able to handle large amount of data
• High power consumption
• High precision
 Classification by Size/Capacity
• Large and fast memory (Primary and
Secondary)
• Uses multiprocessing and parallel processing
• Supports multiprogramming
 Classification by Size/Capacity
2. Main Frame Computers: These are large,
expensive, powerful computers that can handle
hundreds or thousands of connected users
simultaneously. They store great amounts of
data, instructions and information and are
installed in large rooms. E.g. IBM 3000 series,
Burroughs B7900, Univac 1180, DEC
 Classification by Size/Capacity
The characteristics are:
• Able to process large amount of data at very
high speed
• Supports multi-user facility
• Number of processors varies from one to six.
• Cost: 3500 to many million dollars
• Kept in air conditioned room to keep them cool
• Supports many I/O and auxiliary storage devices
• Supports network of terminals
 Classification by Size/Capacity
3. Mini Computers: They make up the middle
class of computer size and power. They are
bigger than microcomputers and have a faster
memory access. They can serve several users
by connecting to monitors called terminals.
E.g. IBM System 36(S/36), Advance system
400 (AS/400), DEC PDP – 8 and PDP-11,
Vax-11/780, Vax-11/750, Vax-11/782, Vax-
11/730.
 Classification by Size/Capacity
The characteristics are:
• Perform better than micros
• Large in size and costlier than micros
• Designed to support more than one user at a
time
• Posses large storage capacities and operates at
higher speed
• Support faster peripheral devices like high speed
printers
• Can also communicate with main frames
 Classification by Size/Capacity
4. Micro Computers: They are the smallest and
cheapest system, and least efficient in data
processing compared to the earlier ones. E.g.
IBM PC, PS/2 and Apple Macintosh. The
types are desktop, palm top, laptop, PDA, note
book.
 Classification by Size/Capacity
The characteristics are:
• A microcomputer uses a microprocessor as its central
Processing Unit. Microcomputers are tiny computers
that can vary in size from a single chip to the size of a
desktop model
• They are designed to be used by only one person at a
time
• Small to medium data storage capacities 500MB –
2GB
• The common examples of microcomputers are chips
used in washing machines, TVs, Cars and Note
book/Personal computers.
 Classification by Type/Nature
Basically there are three types of computers
that fall under this classification. These are:
• Analogue
• Digital and
• Hybrid
 Classification by Type/Nature
• Digital Computers: These are general-
purpose computers that represent and store
data in discrete quantities or numbers. All
processing is done in terms of numeric
representation (binary digits) i. e. 0s and 1s of
data and information. They make use of to
states of electronic circuitry that’s ON and
OFF to operate. E.g. PCs, laptops, notebooks
etc.
 Classification by Type/Nature
• Analogue Computers: These are special
purpose computers that work on continuous
range of values – work on the principle of
measurement. The results given by these
computers will only be approximate since they
deal with quantities that vary continuously
such as voltage, pressure, temperature, speed
etc. Examples are Speedometer, barometer,
thermometer etc.
 Classification by Type/Nature
• Hybrid Computers: These are the ultra-
modern super computers that integrate or
incorporate the technology of both analogue
and digital computers. These store and process
signals which can be converted into discrete
numbers using Analogue-to-Digital Converter
and the vice versa. E.g. Money counting
machine, Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
 Classification by Purpose
• General-Purpose Computers: These are
designed to perform a wide variety of
functions and operations. They are built for
great variety of tasks such as writing and
editing(word processing), manipulating facts
in a database, tracking manufacturing
inventory, making scientific calculations etc.
 Classification by Purpose
• Special-Purpose Computers: These are
designed to be task specific and most of the
times their job is to solve one particular
problem. These are also called dedicated
computers because they are dedicated to
perform a single task over and over again. For
instance traffic lights control system,
navigational system in an aircraft, weather
forecasting, satellite launch/tracking, oil
exploration etc.
 Uses of Computers
They are used in various ways such as:
• Process and store data and information
• Enhance teaching and learning
• Produce documents etc.
• For research work in Health and Medicine, or
Science and Technology in general
• Recreation and Entertainment
• Business transactions and analysis.
 Uses of Computers
Some specific area where the use of computers
are vital include:
• Business: For marketing, stock exchange,
banks and departmental stores.
• E-commerce: For e-mail, e-shopping, e-
banking, video conferencing.
• Banks: To handle trading in multiple
currencies, ATM and facsimile(FAX), e-mail
and voice mail are used to transfer messages
etc. conveniently and easily.
 Uses of Computers
• Industry: For robots, machinery status and
running, observance of temperature and
pressure accurately and precisely.
• Medicine: For patients monitoring, patients
records, diagnosis, hospital administration,
medical history records, life support system.
• Airline: record of passengers, navigation
systems, connect pilot with service station.
 Uses of Computers
• Education: This can’t be effective without
computers and as such computers provide
better study mood, makes learning most
understandable and easier, internet facility to
provides a lot of information from any corner
of the world.
• Weather forecasting: weather stations, airport
satellites, humidity measurement,
meteorological studies.
 Uses of Computers
• Home-use: for playing games, collection of
music, microprocessor technology aids in
baking, food preservation etc. like microwave
oven.
• Tourism: for keeping records of tourists,
information about visits to tourist sites.
• Transportation: digital navigation system has
made it possible to drive in fog as to determine
the speed, direction, acceleration etc.
accurately and precisely.
 Uses of Computers
• Defense: control of ballistic missiles, modern
radar system, used in planes and tanks to target
enemy assets. Also used in the nuclear field in
the function and simulation of these energy
centres.
• Travels: most new cars use computers to control
the engine and other functions e.g. engine
microprocessor instruct it to mix the right ratio
of air and fuel for combustion. Computer chip
controls the timing of spark plugs etc.