Types of

computer

There are many types of

computer systems in
existence. The following
summarises some of the
more common types
currently available:
Topics:
 Introduction
 Desktop computers
 The advantages and disadvantages of desktop
computers over laptop computers
Desktop computers
Desktop usually refers to a
general-purpose computer.
It is made up of a number
of separate components, It
is not very portable.

Because laptop and

desktop computers tend
to be used for very similar
purposes, Let’s compare
them.
The advantages of desktop computers
over laptop computers are:
• » Spare parts and connections are in lower costs.
• » Desktop computers are easier, and less expensive, to
upgrade or expand.
• » The desktop have a better specification (for example,
faster processor).
• » Power consumption is not critical because they usually
plug straight into a wall socket.
• » It is usually fixed in one location, there is less being
damaged or stolen.
They do have disadvantages when
compared to laptop computers:
• » It is not portable because they are made up
of separate components.
• » the components need to be hooked up by
wiring, which also clutters up the desk space.
• » Because it is not portable, it is necessary to
copy files on. You need a USB to save your
files.
The main uses of desktop computers
include:
• » office and business work.
• » educational purposes.
• » general entertainment (for example,
live or ‘catch-up’ streaming of
television programmes).
Mobile computers
Topics:

 Laptop (or notebook)

 Key features of a laptop
 Laptop computers do have advantages and
disadvantages when compared to desktop
computers
 The main uses of laptop computers
Mobile computers
Mobile computers, are considerably more
portable than desktop computers. Such
computers fall into four categories:
» laptop computers
» smartphones
» tablets
» phablets.
Laptop (or notebook)
• Laptop (or notebook) refers to a type of
computer where the monitor, keyboard,
pointing device and processor are all
together in one single unit.
Key features you would expect to find in a laptop:
» lightweight.
» low power consumption (and also long battery life)
» low heat output (cooling is very important).
Laptop computers do have advantages when compared to
desktop computers:

»Portable; they can be taken anywhere because

units are all together in one single unit.
» no trailing wires (only one single cord is used).
» They take up much less room on a desk
» Take full advantage of Wi-Fi features.
» can link into any multimedia system.
Laptop computers also have
disadvantages when compared to desktop
computers:
» Easier to steal!
» Have limited battery life.
» The keyboards and pointing devices are
awkward to use.
» It is not always possible for upgrade, ;ike
adding more RAM.
The main uses of laptop computers
include:

» office and business work.

» educational use
» used as a gaming device.
» general entertainment.
» used in control and
monitoring can be operated
anywhere.
Smartphones
Smartphones
Smartphones allow normal phone calls to be
made, but also have an operating system (such
as iOS, Android or Windows)
Smartphones communicate with the internet
either by using Wi-Fi hot spots or by using
3G/4G/5G mobile phone networks.
Some of the typical features of smartphones
include:
• » front- and back-facing cameras
• » lower weight and longer battery life than laptops.
• » use Bluetooth for connection
• » make use of flash (solid state) memory and cloud
storage facilities for back ups.
» they use a number of sensors to proximity sensors for detection.

>> can use sophisticated speech recognitions systems (such as Siri).

Tablets
 Advantages of tablets compared to
»laptops:
very fast to switch on.
» fully portable and lightweight.
» touch screen technology.
» can use several apps as standard like camera.
.» not much heat – used SSD.
» battery life is a lot longer
» Standby mode - the user still hears alerts when
emails or other ‘events’ are received.
Disadvantages of tablets compared to
laptops:
» tend to be rather expensive.
» they often have limited memory or storage.
» they can be expensive to run if the internet is being
accessed frequently.
» typing on a touch screen can be slow.
» transferring of files often has to be done through an
‘application store’.
» laptops tend to support more types of file format.
Some of the latest smartphones have been designed as a
hybrid between a tablet and a smartphone; these are referred
to as a phablet. They have much larger screens than a
smartphone but are smaller than a tablet. All the features of a
smartphone (described earlier) also apply to phablets
together with the typical features of a tablet.
The main uses of smartphones, tablets and
phablets include:
» entertainment (streaming of music, videos and television programmes)
» gaming (including group games)
» as a camera or video camera (the quality of videos and photos now
matches a good digital cameras)
» internet use (online sales, social networks, using QR codes, and so on)
» sending/receiving emails
» global positioning system (use of maps to navigate to a location)
» calendar functions » telephone banking (sending and receiving money
using the banking apps) » Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – telephone
network using the internet which also allows video calling
The main uses of smartphones, tablets and
phablets include:
» instant access to social networks (social contact with friends no
matter where you are in the world)
» instant messaging » office and business management (particularly
the features that allow rapid voice and video communication)
» education use (using interactive software to teach or learn from)
» remotely control devices (it is possible to remotely operate
devices in the home, such as microwave ovens, which contain
embedded microprocessors; by using internet-enabled smartphones
or tablets, it is possible to start/stop the oven even while several
kilometres away from home by using an App and the internet).
Question and
Answer
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of using
smartphones, tablets or phablets
to control these devices?