Types of computer
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
Mainframe computers or mainframes (colloquially referred to as "big iron")[1] are computers used primarily by large organizations for critical applications; bulk data processing, such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning; and transaction processing. They are larger and have more processing power than some other classes of computers: minicomputers, servers, workstations, and personal computers.
The term originally referred to the large cabinets called "main frames" that housed the central processing unit and main memory of early computers.[2][3] Later, the term was used to distinguish high-end commercial machines from less powerful units.[4] Most large-scale computer system architectures were established in the 1960s, but continue to evolve. Mainframe computers are often used as servers.
USES OF MAIN FRAME COMPUTERS
Mainframe computers or mainframes (colloquially referred to as "big iron") are computers used primarily by large organizations for critical applications; bulk data processing, such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning; and transaction processing.
ADVANTAGES
Main Advantages: High-level computing: One of the main characteristics of mainframe computers is their ability to process data and run applications at high speeds. Increased processing power: Mainframe computers are supported by large numbers of high-power processors.
DISADVANTAGES
- One of the prominent drawbacks of mainframes is their cost. Hardware and software for mainframes are clearly expensive.
- Secondly, mainframe hardware occupies more space than other computers.
MINI COMPUTERS
A minicomputer is a type of computer that possesses most of the features and capabilities of a large computer but is smaller in physical size. A minicomputer fills the space between the mainframe and microcomputer, and is smaller than the former but larger than the latter.
USES OF MINI COMPUTERS
Minicomputers are used for scientific and engineering computations, business-transaction processing, file handling, and database management, and are often now referred to as small or midsize servers.
ADVANTAGES
- Easy to carry on: If you often travel then minicomputer is best for you. ...
- Best for productive people: If you are a tech guy then the mini computer is a good choice for you.
- Low in price:
- Longer battery life:
- Taking notes in class:
- No CD/DVD player:
- Small screen:
- Low storage:
Small screen:
Some people have eye problem so they can feel difficulty in using the small screen. Some software cannot run on low screen. This is another disadvantage of mini computer.
PC
A personal computer is a multi-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and price make it feasible for individual use. Personal computers are intended to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or technician.
USES OF PC
At home, the most popular use for personal computers is for playing games. Businesses use personal computers for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database management applications.
ADVANTAGES
- Increase your productivity.
- Connects you to the Internet.
- Can store vast amounts of information and reduce waste.
- Helps sort, organize, and search through information.
- Get a better understanding of data.
- Keeps you connected.
DISADVANTAGES
- Carpal tunnel and eye strain.
- Too much sitting.
- Short attention span and too much multitasking.
- Can limit learning and create a dependency.
- Potential of loss of privacy.
WORK STATIONS
A workstation is a special computer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems.
USES OF WORKSTATION
Generally they have powerful processors with lots of memory and a high quality GPU for rendering graphical applications. Typically you will find workstations in media development like Disney or DreamWorks, but they are also used in professional applications for CAD drawing and rendering, as well as music production.
ADVANTAGES
It bears high quality graphics and high performance. It can work with many CPUs at a time while the desktops can not do so. It is used in some special fields like in engineering and for research purposes in medical field.
DISADVANTAGES
- If the computer server fails, all the computer clients are useless. ...
- All computer clients will fail if the centralized LAN (ethernet) cable has been damaged.
- For amateurs, initial investment might be expensive for creating the computer server.
SUPER COMPUTERS
A supercomputer is a computer that performs at or near the currently highest operational rate for computers. ... The term is also sometimes applied to far slower (but still impressively fast) computers. The largest, most powerful supercomputers are really multiple computers that perform parallel processing.
USES OF SUPER COMPUTERS
Traditional uses for supercomputers have been in oil and gas exploration, converting seismic data into maps that indicate where to drill oil and/or gas wells. They are employed in engineering simulations such as fluid dynamics calculations on automobiles that look at drag and aerodynamic efficiency.
ADVANTAGES
The Advantages of a Supercomputer. Supercomputers are specialized devices built to perform extremely difficult calculations extremely quickly. They can be used to play chess, render high-quality computer graphics or accurately simulate weather systems.
DISADVANTAGES
Storage and Bandwidth
A disadvantage is that supercomputers require massive external storage drives whose bandwidth is fast enough to accommodate the data being analyzed and produced. If storage and bandwidth can't keep up with the data flow, the supercomputer will not be able to work at its full capacity.
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