A computer is an electronic device that can manipulate information or data, store, retrieve, and process it for more useful information. It is programmable so it can respond to specific instructions or commands.
Computers of the earlier years were of the size of a large room and were required to consume huge amounts of electric power. However, with the advancing technology, computers have shrunk to the size of a small watch. Depending on the processing power and size of computers, they have been classified into various types. Let us look at the classification of computers.
Different Types of Computers
Based on the operational principle of computers, they are categorized as analog, digital and hybrid computers.
Analog Computers: These are almost extinct today. These are different from a digital computer because an analog computer can perform several mathematical operations simultaneously. It uses continuous variables for mathematical operations and utilizes mechanical or electrical energy.
Digital Computers: They use digital circuits and are designed to operate on two states, namely bits 0 and 1. They are analogous to states ON and OFF. Data on these computers is represented as a series of 0s and 1s. Digital computers are suitable for complex computation and have higher processing speeds.
They are programmable. Digital computers are either general-purpose computers or special-purpose ones. As their name suggests, special purpose computers are designed for specific types of data processing, while general-purpose computers are meant for general use.
Hybrid Computers: These computers are a combination of both digital and analog computers. In this type of computer, the digital segments perform process control by conversion of analog signals to digital ones.
Classification of Computers
The following are the classification of the different types of computers based on their sizes and functionalities:
Mainframe Computers:
Large organizations use mainframes for highly critical applications such as bulk data processing and ERP. Most of the mainframe computers have the capacities to host multiple operating systems and operate as some virtual machines and can substitute for several small servers.
Minicomputers:
In terms of size and processing capacity, minicomputers lie in between mainframes and microcomputers. Minicomputers are also called mid-range systems or workstations. The term began to be popularly used in the 1960s to refer to relatively smaller third-generation computers.
Servers:
They are computers designed to provide services to client machines in a computer network. They have larger storage capacities and powerful processors. Running on them are programs that serve client requests and allocate resources like memory and time to client machines. Usually, they are very large in size, as they have large processors and many hard drives. They are designed to be fail-safe and resistant to crash.
Supercomputers:
The highly calculation-intensive tasks can be effectively performed using supercomputers. Quantum physics, mechanics, weather forecasting, molecular theory are best studied utilizing supercomputers. Their ability of parallel processing and their well-designed memory hierarchy gives the supercomputers large transaction processing powers.
Microcomputers:
A computer with a microprocessor and its central processing unit is known as a microcomputer. They do not occupy space as much as mainframes do. When supplemented with a keyboard and a mouse, microcomputers can be called personal computers. A monitor, a keyboard, and other similar input-output devices, computer memory in the form of RAM, and a power supply unit come packaged in a microcomputer. These computers can fit on desks or tables and prove to be the best choice for single-user tasks.
Desktops:
A desktop is intended to be used in a single location. The spare parts of a desktop computer are readily available at relatively lower costs. Power consumption is not as critical as that in laptops. Desktops are widely popular for daily use in the workplace and households.
Laptops:
Similar in operation to desktops, laptop computers are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use. Laptops run on a single battery or an external adapter that charges the computer batteries.
Netbooks:
They fall in the category of laptops but are inexpensive and relatively smaller in size. They had a smaller feature set and lesser capacities in comparison to regular laptops at the time they came into the market.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs):
It is a handheld computer and popularly known as a palmtop. It has a touch screen and a memory card for the storage of data. PDAs can also be used as portable audio players, web browsers, and smartphones. Most of them can access the Internet by means of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication.
Tablet Computers:
Tablets are mobile computers that are very handy to use. They use touch screen technology. Tablets come with an onscreen keyboard or use a stylus or a digital pen. Apple's iPod redefined the class of tablet computers.
Wearable Computers:
A record-setting step in the evolution of computers was the creation of wearable computers. These computers can be worn on the body and are often used to study behavior modeling and human health. Military and health professionals have incorporated wearable computers into their daily routine as a part of such studies.
When the users' hands and sensory organs are engaged in other activities, wearable computers help track human actions. Wearable computers do not have to be turned on and off and remain in operation without user intervention.
Development Team of the Learner’s Material
Authors: Owen M. Milambiling, Cesar T. Arriola, Dante B. Bermas, Ronaldo V. Ramilo,
Rosalie P. Lujero, Diana Marie B. Dagli, Dr. Virgilio O. Guevarra, and Maria Angelica G. Mates
Editors: Dr. Paraluman R. Giron, Ofelia C. Flojo, and Perla H. Cuanzon
Reviewers: Romeo B. Gacutan, Simfroso C. Robles II and Marion I. Alinas
Illustrator and Layout Artists:
Subject Specialist: Owen M. Milambiling
Management Team: Dr. Lolita M. Andrada, Jocelyn DR Andaya, Bella O. Mariñas,
Dr. Jose D. Tuguinayo, Jr
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