Information of some topices
TYPES OF COMPUTER
Computers can be broadly classified
by their speed and computing power.
1. PC [Personal Computer]
A PC can be defined as a small,
relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. PCs 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 surfing the Internet.
Although
personal computers are designed as single-user systems, these systems are
normally linked together to form a network. In terms of power, nowadays
high-end models of the Macintosh and PC offer the same computing power and
graphics capability as low-end workstations by Sun Microsystems,
Hewlett-Packard, and DELL.
2. WorkStation
Workstation is a computer used for
engineering applications (CAD/CAM), desktop publishing, software development,
and other such types of applications, which require a moderate amount of
computing power and relatively high quality graphics capabilities.
Workstations generally come with a
large, high-resolution graphics screen, large amount of RAM, inbuilt 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.
Common operating systems for
workstations are UNIX and Windows NT. Like PC, Workstations are also
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.
Minicomputer
It is a midsize computer. A
minicomputer is a multi-processing system capable of supporting from up to 250
users simultaneously.
Mainframe
Mainframe is
a very large in size and an expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds,
or even thousands, of users simultaneously. Mainframe executes many programs
concurrently. Mainframes support many simultaneous programs execution.
Supercomputer
Supercomputers are 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,
scientific simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic calculations,
nuclear energy research, electronic design, and analysis of geological data
(e.g. in petrochemical prospecting)
