...Main Frames vs. Personal Computers Joe Livingston POS/355 April 16 2010 Adam Manfred The essay will cover two main topics of main frames are. The second topic is personal computers or PC. The essay will define what a mainframe computer is and what the computers primary functions are. The paper will cover what a personal computer is and what PC are used for. Once both the mainframe computer and personal computer are defined, the paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both systems. According to techtarget.com a mainframe is a computer that can process thousands of lines of code for a large scale environment like a bank. Mainframes were typically very large machines could span entire rooms. Mainframes can be accessed also through local area networks (LAN) or wide area networks (WAN) and have multiple users. According to bookrags.com mainframe uses a central processing unit that performs calculates and issues instructions to other components. Personal computers or PC also do most of the tasks mainframe computers do in different and smaller scales. The personal computer or PC has many uses for individual users. According to britannica.com a personal computer or digital computer is designed for the use of one person at a time. Personal computers use most of the same comp nets as a mainframe computer like a central processing unit CPU, random access memory RAM, Hard drive. The personal computer has input and output devices like keyboard, mouse...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
...Personal Computers v Mainframes James Ratti POS355 April 9, 2012 John Stewart Abstract The world of Information Technology covers many variations of computers, from smart phones to supercomputers like IBM’s Watson. While smart phones and tablets have are becoming more popular, there are two venerable machines that are at the heart of computing, the Personal Computer and the Mainframe. With advances in technology the lines between the two are fading, but will never disappear completely. Personal Computers v Mainframes The information systems backbone of many companies is their mainframe computer. The mainframe computer is a large centrally located machine capable of processing multiple very large transactions at the same time. Users access these large computers by workstations that can resemble a personal computer, but are often a dumb terminal. What is a Mainframe and how would you define what it is? It really comes down to centralization and distribution rather than computing power (Oman, n.d.). With ever increasing technologies, the actual computing power of Personal Computers is rivaling that of Mainframes, however, the Personal Computer becomes limited when it comes to how many users can log on to it and how many jobs can run. The huge amounts of data that can be processed by many more users than can be logged into a personal computer and the ability of the mainframes users to be located around the globe and stay secure are all things that define a...
Words: 752 - Pages: 4
...tablets are becoming more popular, there are two machines that are still the heart of the technology world and that are a PC’s and Mainframes. With technology advancing every day the line between the two are surely fading fast. What is a Mainframe and how would you define what it is? A centralization and distribution rather than computing power (Oman, n.d.). Many corporations and governmental companies’ main back bone are mainframe computers. These companies have a great need for this; regular PC’s would not have the power to process the tons of data such as census, industry, consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and transaction processing. One of the major disadvantages to the mainframe is the cost. Starting in the tens of thousands of dollars, into the hundreds of thousands, the cost of a mainframe is simply too much for small companies that needs them. Another major cost about mainframes is the skill level of employees you would have to hire to maintain and run the programs. Most cutting edge mainframe design is not so much interpret by single task computational speed, typically defined as MIPS rate or FLOPS. A PC is a ‘is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator.’ A PC generally use windows processor spreadsheet or some type of presentation. Before PC was so advance user were creating...
Words: 599 - Pages: 3
...milestones both positive and negative. These milestones can be seen economically, culturally, and socially. What began as a large mainframe which filled up rooms of space has evolved into portable devices like smart-phones that can easily be customized to each users preferences. Two avenues in technology to explore are the mainframe and the PC which sets the tone and is the foundation of what technology can bring into the next millennium. Mainframes are a digital computer that is designed for high speed data processing through the heavy use of input/output units such as large capacity disks and printers. The industrial era relied heavily on manpower to satisfy consumer needs. But as time wore on the consumer demand became so great that the use of mainframes was necessary to simplify and meet consumer demands. In addition, what would take months or even years to produce could easily be completed in weeks or a few days with mainframes. They have even been used for such applications as payroll computations, accounting, business transactions, information retrieval, airline reservations, and scientific engineering which involve complex computations. From the mainframes, came the birth of the personal computer and its introduction to the mass market. The personal computer is a digital computer designed for use by only one person. A typical personal computer consists of a...
Words: 1100 - Pages: 5
...Mainframes vs. PC's Essentially, mainframes and PC's do the same thing. They manipulate 0's and 1's. Their basic components are the same. Processors, I/O devices, memory and storage devices. The first computing systems were mainframes. They required large amounts of space, environmentally controlled rooms, and large power supplies. Mainframes are extremely expensive but a valuable tool to large businesses. Mainframes consist of multiple processors, large amounts of memory, storage, and can support thousands of users. Its tremendous number crunching abilities allow business applications to compile large batch processing tasks, which needs more memory, at speed. The original mainframe system was designed to have one massive computer in one central location and many "dumb" terminals connected to it throughout an office building. The original "dumb" terminals were referred to as such because they had no processing capability on their own, they had to be connected to the mainframe or they were useless. They were made up of a keyboard and a monitor. The keyboard was the input interface to the mainframe and the output was delivered to either the monitor or sent to a printer. Mainframe computer systems will most likely have more than one processor. The host processor has direct control over all the other processors, storage devices and input/output devices. The other processors relieve the host of certain routine processing requirements. For example, the back-end...
Words: 623 - Pages: 3
...System Requirement Specifications (SRS) Assignment 1 Sample Solution System Requirement Specifications 1 Table of Contents 1 2 3 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Overall Description ................................................................................................................................... 2 4 Investigation & Analysis Methodology........................................................................................................................ 2 4.1 System Investigation ................................................................................................................................. 2 4.2 Analysis Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 3 4.2.1 Feasibility study and requirements elicitation...
Words: 2557 - Pages: 11
...applications are important for Managers? Chapter 1 and 2 Computers and Computer Organization Chapter 1 * What is a Computer? * Two basic components of a Computer System * Hardware and Software * Difference between the two basic components * Types of Computer * Analog, Digital and Hybrid General Operations of a Computer System * Interfacing * Inputting * Storing * Processing * Outputting * Controlling Basic Organization of a Computer System * Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) * Arithmetic functions * Logical functions * Primary Memory vs. Secondary Memory (Storage) Potential Exam. Questions * What is a computer? What are the different types of Computers? * Differentiate between Analog and Digital Computer. * Differentiate between Hardware and Software. * What are the general operations of a computer system? * Explain the basic organization of a computer system. * Differentiate between Primary and Secondary Memory. * Why I.T. is important for Managers? Chapter 3, 5, 6 and 7 Classification and components of Computers * Classifications of Digital Computers * Super Computer * Mainframe * Minicomputer * Workstations * Microcomputers * Portable Computers Super Computers * Key characteristics * Applications Mainframe * Key characteristics * Applications Mini Computers * Key characteristics * Applications Workstation ...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5
...System Requirement Specifications (SRS) Assignment 1 Sample Solution System Requirement Specifications 1 Table of Contents 1 2 3 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Overall Description ................................................................................................................................... 2 4 Investigation & Analysis Methodology........................................................................................................................ 2 4.1 System Investigation ................................................................................................................................. 2 4.2 Analysis Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 3 4.2.1 Feasibility study and requirements elicitation...
Words: 2557 - Pages: 11
...System Requirement Specifications (SRS) Assignment 1 Sample Solution System Requirement Specifications 1 Table of Contents 1 2 3 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Overall Description ................................................................................................................................... 2 4 Investigation & Analysis Methodology........................................................................................................................ 2 4.1 System Investigation ................................................................................................................................. 2 4.2 Analysis Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 3 4.2.1 Feasibility study and requirements elicitation...
Words: 2557 - Pages: 11
...decision making and control in an organization –Six building blocks of computers: input, output, memory, arithmetic/logic unit, control unit and files. Control unit and arithmetic/logical unit together known as CPU (central processing unit). –Arithmetic/Logic Unit: carries out mathematical operations and logical comparisons, consist of very large scale integrated circuits, can perform billion operations per second, numbers taking from memories as input and results stored in memory as output. -Control Unit: controls the other five compo of the comp system, enables the comp to take advantage of speed and capacity of its other compo, list of operations called a program, these operations read from memory, interpreted and carried out one at a time (stored program concept). –Cache memory: high speed, high cost storage, used as intermediary between control unit and main memory, compensates for speed mismatches built into the comp system. –Multiple processor configurations: a comp system usually contains more than one processor, dual processor contain two physical separate processors as two separate chips, dual core contain two complete processors manufactured as a single chip, dual processor are better and faster. –Input: devices allow users to enter data into the comp for processing, common devices: keyboard, disk drive, magnetic ink character, etc) –Terminal: Simpler than PC, design for input and output, connected to computer with telecommunication line. –Output: devices produce results in...
Words: 3433 - Pages: 14
...Fusion of Computer Technology and Communication Technology Computer Technology programmable, multiuse machine that accepts data and processes it into usable information summaries, totals, or reports used to speed up problem solving and increase productivity. What is Information Technology Communication Technology consists of electromagnetic/optical devices and systems for communicating over long distances InfoTech or IT is any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information merges computing with high-speed communication links, carrying data, sound, and video Some examples of IT Image Morphing changing (or morphing) one image into another through a seamless transition Image Morphing? Turbo Teen Some examples of IT Video Conferencing Information Systems Why Do People Need Information? Businesses - Decision making, problem solving and control Individuals - Entertainment and enlightenment Data, Information and Systems Data vs. Information Data A “given,” or fact; a number, a statement, or a picture Represents something in the real world The raw materials in the production of information Information Data that have meaning within a context Data in relationships Data after manipulation The Computer Defined A device that computes Electronic device Converts data into information Modern computers are digital ...
Words: 1139 - Pages: 5
...methods in which we store our data has become as important as any other technology. As technology has advanced, more and more data is being stored and having reliable means of storage has become a challenge that IT professionals will continue to deal with in the future. In this paper, I will outline the different types of backups that have been used over the years. I will talk about how data backup and storage has move to an online arena. Finally I will talk about cloud storage and cloud computing. I will discuss how cloud computing will become the future of how we operate in the online world. Background The need for backing up data has existed for as long as we have been using computers. When we first started using computers, data was stored on floppy disks or tape drives. In the beginning the amounts of data being stored were relatively small. Floppy disks and tape drives provided a sufficient amount of space to store the amounts of data being produced. Over the years, technology has evolved and the amounts of data have increased. As the world moves closer and closer to being completely online, the need for online data storage has increased. The way that we store, share, and manipulate data has...
Words: 2743 - Pages: 11
...Privacy in the workplace can reasonably be expected in three general areas as it relates to the employer, co-workers, clients and customers. When an employee is hired at a new company, there are several security measures that are already in place in order to keep their personal information private and/or confidential. The first being in the Human Resources Department where all the information is gathered by the employee filling out various forms of that are confidential in nature. This information is kept in the employee’s private, confidential employee folder in the Human Resources Department, generally in a locked cabinet or other secured areas. This ensures that no one other than the Human Resources Department can get access to the information other in the file. At times, special permission is granted for a manager to review the file for a specific reason, along with the Human Resources representative. The second place where an employee can reasonably expect to have privacy is in the computer mainframe where all the pertinent records (such as social security number, address, date of birth, banking information, etc.) are stored. This is used primarily for an employee’s timekeeper administration and government reporting purposes. Only key personnel such as Human Resources, Accounting and IT have access. There are also different levels of access allowed based on the need to see the data. Another area of where an employee can reasonably expect to have privacy...
Words: 874 - Pages: 4
...advertisement from businesses to take presence on the web pages the consumer visits. When a consumer mentions in a chat log or an E-mail that they are looking for a specific item the computers who processes information for the purpose of advertising will place the best advertisements on the screen. It also helps law enforcement catch potential dangers to the people using the same algorithm. Data collectors flags certain keywords in the consumers data that may be a sign of danger. Many consumers would argue that data mining is an invasion of privacy because they believe the data they view or hold is their...
Words: 1152 - Pages: 5
...Windows operating system. Discuss the pros and cons this creates for computer users. Does the dominance of Windows make it easier or harder for you to use computers? I have only used Windows operating system on all my computers, therefore I am not familiar with any other operating systems. I would think because Microsoft dominates, that if you used a different operating system, it would be more difficult to find software with the system requirements to be compatible. Therefore, the opposite would be true if you used the Windows operating system, you could find more compatible software.1. Microsoft dominates the operating system market for microcomputers with its Windows operating system. Discuss the pros and cons this creates for computer users. Does the dominance of Windows make it easier or harder for you to use computers? The pros to the dominate Microsoft operating system is that most people that we come into contact with and discuss computers with will be using the same operating system as you. You will not have to explain how it works (simple tasks) and explaining to someone how to do something will be easier. The other big Pro is that as you upgrade or replace you computer, the worst problem you will encounter (with an operating system) is the newer version, i.e. window XP vs. Vista. from computer to computer they are basicly the same. I have found it quite helpfull when I go work on a friends computer that I don’t have to do a lot of research to figure out how to navigate...
Words: 837 - Pages: 4
