The Types or Classifications of Computers That have been Developed so Far.

 Classification of Computer 

The digital computers that are available nowadays very in their sizes and types. The computer are broadly classified into four categories based on their sizes and types:-

Microcomputers

1. Microcomputers are small, low cast and signal user digital computers.

2. They consist of CPU, input unit, output unit, storage unit and the software.

3. Although microcomputers are stand alone machine, they can be contacted together to create a network of computers that can serve more than one user.

4. IBM PC based on Pentium microprocessor and Apple Macintosh are some examples of microcomputers.

5. Microcomputers include desktop computers, notebook computers or laptop, tablet computer, handheld computer, smart phones and netbook, as shown in.

Minicomputers

1. Minicomputers are digital computers, generally used in multi user system.

2. They have high processing speed and high storage capacity than the microcomputers.

3. Minicomputers can support 4-200 users simultaneously.

4. The users can access the minicomputer thought their PCs or terminal. They are used for real time applications in industries, research centers.

5. PDP 11 , IBM 8000 series are some of the widely used minicomputers.

Mainframe Computers

1. Mainframe Computers are malti user, multi programming and high performance computers.

2. They operate at a very high speed, have very large storage capacity and can handle the workload of many users.

3. A dumb terminal can't store data or do processing of it own. It has the input and output device only.

4. An intelligent terminal has the input and output device, can do processing, but can't store data of its own.

5. Mainframe Computers are used in organization like banks or companies, where many people requir frequent access to the same data.

Supercomputers

1. Supercomputers are the fastest and the most expensive machines high processing speed compared to other computers.

2. The speed of a supercomputer is generally measured in FLOPS (Floating point Operations Per Second).

3. Supercomputers are built by interconnecting thousands of processors that can work in parallel.

4. Supercomputers are used for highly calculation intensive tasks, such as, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular research, biological research, nuclear research and aircraft design

5. They are also used in major universities, military agencies and scientific research laboratories. Supercomputers are IBM Roadrunner, IBM Blue Gene and Intel ASCI red.