The Four Categories of Computers
Anthony Johnson

ITM 5000 Information Technology Management
Ms. Brenda K. Britt
04 October 2011

The Four Categories of Computers

Today computers are divided into four categories Super computers, Mainframe computers, Mini computers and Micro-computers more commonly known as a personal computer. Personal computer categories include desktop, network, laptop, and handheld.
A super computer is the fastest computer mostly used by scientist and engineers who work with huge amounts of data usually on more than one central processing unit (CPU) working simultaneously. Supercomputers have the ability to store huge amounts of data and the capability to deliver very fast input/output of information. The military branches, Universities, and science research facilities use the super computers mostly. Scientific computing is the ability of a CPU to accomplish huge mathematical computations at an extremely fast rate this created the demand for the super computer.
Extremely large mathematical computations are processes most needed in fields such as physics, mechanical engineering, meteorology, and aerodynamics. A common technique is to compute an approximate numerical solution to a set of partial differential equations which mathematically describe the physical process of interest but are too complex to be solved by formal mathematical methods. (McGraw-Hill, 2005) Personal computers have a single processor. The supercomputers have thousands of processors. The fastest supercomputer is the Japanese Kobe Computer, at the RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science, Kobe, this computer can compute more than 8 quadrillion calculations per second. And it uses 68,544 eight-core processors. Super computers mostly use Linux operating system. Supercomputers give scientist and researchers the insight into subjects that are to small, to fast, to big or to slow to otherwise observe in laboratories. An example would be astrophysicists use supercomputers as "time machines" to explore the past and the future in the universe.

Mainframe computers support thousands of users simultaneously and they are very large and expensive to operate. Mainframes are just below supercomputers in the list of computers from largest to smallest. In certain situations, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support more programs simultaneously. The name mainframe come from the first computer components were on chassis or “main frames”. More often than not mainframe computers are found in temperature controlled dust free and humidity controlled rooms. Mainframes process data at a million instructions per second (MIPS) Over one thousand workstations or remote terminals are connected to mainframes. Mainframe computers cost can start at several thousand to multiple millions of dollars. They are used by companies that process very large amounts of data for corporations like insurance companies, banks (ATM), large corporations, manufacturers, airline companies, aerospace engineering companies doing complex aircraft design, and Internet servers. A key design concept of mainframe computers is that they are designed for multiple users. For example, airline reservation clerks can access the same computer at the same time to make reservations for waiting customers. In the past, a typical mainframe might have occupied 2,000 - 10,000 square feet. Newer mainframes are about the same size as a large refrigerator. (mainframe (big iron), 1997)
The mini-computer before being replaced by the personal computer was the smaller alternative to room size version of computers. Mini-computers have limited functionality used primarily for communications, process control and data management. Typically the minicomputer has very limited processing power, just enough to accomplish simple processing tasks using one processor. The minicomputer is small and easy to transport from home, work and school. There are a-few types of minicomputers. The Notebook it weighs about 2-3 pounds with a 9” to 10” screen they often cost under $500. They contain an Intel processor, USB ports, Ethernet, Web cam and Wi-Fi capability. The Handheld device also known as personal digital assistants (PDA’s) is pocket size with an internal processor touch screen and a hard drive. Almost like the PDA is the Tablet and it also has a touch screen with more operating power and storage and a little larger than the PDA. Apples ipad was the breakout PDA with the feature to read magazines, books and also many computer functions. (Ilyas, 2010)

The mini computer is still a multi-user system like a mainframe, but more compact. (By Gregory Thompson, 2011) A mini-computer includes many of the same components found in a traditionally sized desktop tower, such as standard processors, memory and optical drives, but placed on a smaller motherboard.

Micro-computers are just as powerful as minicomputers of several years ago. Because of the growing power of each successive generation of microprocessor, plus the addition of mainframe computer features to the chip, such as floating-point mathematics, computation hardware, memory management, and multiprocessing support. (Anissimov, 2011)
"Microcomputer" a old term that refers to a computer that has a microprocessor (integrated circuit) for its CPU, considered a third generation computer. Today, almost all computers are microcomputers.

The four types of Super, Mainframe, Mini and Micro Computers so many things about them make them different from each other one thing makes them all the same X’s and O’s have come a long way. What’s next? We are only limited by our own imaginations

References mainframe (big iron). (1997, June). Retrieved September 2011, from SearchDataCenter.com: http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/definition/mainframe
Anissimov, M. (2011, July 22). What are Microcomputers? Retrieved September 23, 2011, from WiseGeek: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-microcomputers.htm
By Gregory Thompson, e. C. (2011). What Are Mini Computers? Retrieved 1999, from eHow.com: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5120528_mini-computers.html
Ilyas, Z. (2010, Dec 10). Types of Mini Computers. Retrieved September 23, 2011, from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/list_6940828_types-mini-computers.html
McGraw-Hill. (2005). Science and Technology. Retrieved from Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/topic/supercomputer