Types of Computers
Chidambaranathan C.M
What is a Computer?
• A device that receives data, processes
data, stores data, and produces a result.
Handheld devices such as these
are also computers…
3 types of computers are used for
business information systems:
• Mainframes
• Minicomputers
• Microcomputers
Mainframe Computers
• industry term for a large computer - “big iron”
• “modularized” to reduce overhead
• used to centralized computer processing
• often used as large database servers
• Mainframes usually cost hundreds of thousands
of dollars and are manufactured by companies
such as Hitachi, IBM and Amdahl.
Mainframe Definition
Large, powerful
computers that are
used for centralized
storage, processing,
and management of
very large amounts
of data.
Diagram of a Simple Mainframe Configuration
Cluster
Controller
PC Workstations
or terminals
Front-End
Processor
(FEP)
Cluster
Controller
Mainframe
Minicomputers
• smaller than a Mainframe
• larger than a PC (Microcomputer)
• have become the “mid-range” server
•IBM’s AS/400 is an example
Minicomputer Definition
A computer designed to
serve multiple users and
process significant
amounts of data; larger
than a microcomputer, but
smaller than a mainframe.
Microcomputers
• Also called Personal Computers (PCs)
• desktop computing and client-server
applications
• can serve both as a client and a server
Sun Microsystems generally is thought to manufacture
high-end PCs.
Microcomputer Definition
• It’s designed for use by a single user.
Microcomputers
• Microcomputers are generally categorized
by the Central Processing Unit (CPU)
type:
– Intel-IBM compatible (Wintel)
– Motorola – Apple/Macintosh/Power PC
– Sun Microsystems - SPARC
Microcomputers
• Forms of Micro-Computers:
– Workstations
• High processing speed and performance
• Engineering, graphical uses
– Personal computers
• Less powerful than workstations
• Categorized as either a desktop or portable computer
• Laptops or notebooks
– Handheld Computers and PDAs
• Smallest personal computers
• Increased power to perform word processing and
complex spreadsheet and database functions
• Mobile connectivity with wireless telephone, internet and
email.