S.No Name Of Topic Pg.

no
1 Computer:Defination 1
2 Computer sizes and power 2
3 Types of Computer 3
4 Supercomputer and Mainframe 4-5
5 Minicomputer 6

6 Workstation 7

7 Personal computer: 8
8 Personal Computer Types 9-10
9 Notebook computer 11

10 Laptop computer 12-13

11 Palmtop 14
I, Computer: Definition 1

 A computer is a machine that can be programmed to

manipulate symbols. Its principal characteristics are:
 It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-
defined manner.
 It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a
program).
 It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of
data.
 Therefore computers can perform complex and
repetitive procedures quickly, precisely and reliably.
Modern computers are electronic and digital. The
actual machinery (wires, transistors, and circuits) is
called hardware; the instructions and data are called
software. All general-purpose computers require the
following hardware components:
II, Computer sizes and power 2

 Computers can be generally classified by size and power as

follows, though there is considerable overlap:
 Personal computer: A small, single-user computer based on
a microprocessor.
 Workstation: A powerful, single-user computer. A
workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more
powerful microprocessor and, in general, a higher-quality
monitor.
 Minicomputer: A multi-user computer capable of supporting
up to hundreds of users simultaneously.
 Mainframe: A powerful multi-user computer capable of
supporting many hundreds or thousands of users
simultaneously.
 Supercomputer: An extremely fast computer that can
perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
3 3
 Supercomputer and Mainframe

 Supercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest

computers currently available.
 Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed
for specialized applications that require immense amounts
of mathematical calculations (number crunching).
 For example, weather forecasting requires a
supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers scientific
simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic
calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design,
and analysis of geological data (e.g. in petrochemical
prospecting).
 Perhaps the best known supercomputer manufacturer is
Cray Research.

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 Mainframe was a term originally referring to the cabinet
containing the central processor unit or "main frame" of a
room-filling Stone Age batch machine. After the emergence of
smaller "minicomputer" designs in the early 1970s, the
traditional big iron machines were described as "mainframe
computers" and eventually just as mainframes. Nowadays a
Mainframe is a very large and expensive computer capable of
supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users
simultaneously. The chief difference between a
supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer
channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast
as possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute
many programs concurrently. In some ways, mainframes are
more powerful than supercomputers because they support
more simultaneous programs. But supercomputers can
execute a single program faster than a mainframe. The
distinction between small mainframes and minicomputers is
vague, depending really on how the manufacturer wants to
market its machines.

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 Minicomputer 6

 It is a midsize computer. In the past

decade, the distinction between
large minicomputers and small
mainframes has blurred, however,
as has the distinction between small
minicomputers and workstations.
But in general, a minicomputer is a
multiprocessing system capable of
supporting from up to 200 users
simultaneously.
 Workstation 7

 It is a type of computer used for engineering applications (CAD/CAM),

desktop publishing, software development, and other types of
applications that require a moderate amount of computing power and
relatively high quality graphics capabilities.
 Workstations generally come with a large, high-resolution graphics
screen, at large amount of RAM, built-in network support, and a
graphical user interface. Most workstations also have a mass storage
device such as a disk drive, but a special type of workstation, called a
diskless workstation, comes without a disk drive. The most common
operating systems for workstations are UNIX and Windows NT. Like
personal computers, most workstations are single-user computers.
However, workstations are typically linked together to form a local-
area network, although they can also be used as stand-alone systems.
 N.B.: In networking, workstation refers to any computer connected to
a local-area network. It could be a workstation or a personal
computer.
 Personal computer: 8

 Itcan be defined as a small, relatively

inexpensive computer designed for an
individual user. In price, personal computers
range anywhere from a few hundred pounds to
over five thousand pounds. All are based on
the microprocessor technology that enables
manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one
chip. Businesses use personal computers for
word processing, accounting, desktop
publishing, and for running spreadsheet and
database management applications. At home,
the most popular use for personal computers is
for playing games and recently for surfing the
Internet.
 9

Personal Computer Types

 Actual personal computers can be generally classified by
size and chassis / case.
 The chassis or case is the metal frame that serves as the
structural support for electronic components. Every
computer system requires at least one chassis to house the
circuit boards and wiring.
 The chassis also contains slots for expansion boards. If you
want to insert more boards than there are slots, you will
need an expansion chassis, which provides additional slots.
 There are two basic flavors of chassis designs–desktop
models and tower models–but there are many variations on
these two basic types.
 Then come the portable computers that are computers
small enough to carry. Portable computers include
notebook and subnotebook computers, hand-held
computers, palmtops, and PDAs.
Tower
The term refers to a computer in which the
model
power supply, motherboard, and mass storage 10
devices are stacked on top of each other in a
cabinet. This is in contrast to desktop models, in
which these components are housed in a more
compact box. The main advantage of tower
Desktop
models model
is that there are fewer space constraints,
which makes installation
A computer designed tooffitadditional storage
comfortably on
devices
top of a easier.
desk, typically with the monitor
sitting on top of the computer. Desktop
model computers are broad and low,
whereas tower model computers are narrow
and tall. Because of their shape, desktop
model computers are generally limited to
three internal mass storage devices.
Desktop models designed to be very small
are sometimes referred to as slimline
models.
book computer
briefcase. Aside from size, the principal difference
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between a notebook computer and a personal

computer is the display screen. Notebook
computers use a variety of techniques, known as
flat-panel technologies, to produce a lightweight
and non-bulky display screen.

 The quality of notebook display screens varies

considerably. In terms of computing power,
modern notebook computers are nearly
equivalent to personal computers. They have the
same CPUs, memory capacity, and disk drives.
However, all this power in a small package is
expensive. Notebook computers cost about twice
as much as equivalent regular-sized computers.
Notebook computers come with battery packs
 A small, portable
aptop computer
computer -- small
enough that it can
sit on your lap.
Nowadays, laptop
computers are
more frequently
called notebook
computers.

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 Hand-held computer
 A portable computer that is small enough to be held

in one’s hand. Although extremely convenient to

carry, handheld computers have not replaced
notebook computers because of their small
keyboards and screens.
 The most popular hand-held computers are those

that are specifically designed to provide PIM

(personal information manager) functions, such as a
calendar and address book. Some manufacturers
are trying to solve the small keyboard problem by
replacing the keyboard with an electronic pen.
However, these pen-based devices rely on
handwriting recognition technologies, which are still
in their infancy. Hand-held computers are also called
PDAs, palmtops and pocket computers.

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palm. Compared to full-size computers,
palmtops are severely limited, but they are
practical for certain functions such as
phone books and calendars. Palmtops that
use a pen rather than a keyboard for input
are often called hand-held computers or
PDAs.
 Because of their small size, most
palmtop computers do not include disk
drives. However, many contain PCMCIA
slots in which you can insert disk drives,
modems, memory, and other devices.
Palmtops are also called PDAs, hand-held
computers and pocket computers
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