Classes of computers: Difference between revisions

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{{chart top|width=95%|Classes of Computers|collapsed=yes}}

{{tree chart/start|align=center|summary=Computer chart}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | |Computer|Computer=Computer}}

{{tree chart| | | | |,|-|-|'|!|`|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| | | |Analog| |Hybrid| |Digital|Analog=Analog|Hybrid=Hybrid|Digital=Digital}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | |,|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| |Super| |Mainframe| |Mobile| |Mini| |Micro|Super=Super Computers|Mainframe=Mainframe Computers||Mobile=Mobile Computers|Mini=Mini Computers|Micro=Micro Computers}}

{{tree chart/end}}

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|style="text-align: left;"|'''Notes:'''

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=== Microcomputers (personal computers) ===

[[Microcomputer]]s became the most common type of computer in the late 20th century. The term “microcomputer”"microcomputer" was introduced with the advent of systems based on single-chip [[microprocessor]]s. The best-known{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} early system was the [[Altair 8800]], introduced in 1975. The term "microcomputer" has practically become an [[anachronism]] as it has fallen into disuse.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Books Ngram Viewer |url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Microcomputer&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=26&smoothing=3&direct_url=t1;,Microcomputer;,c0 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=books.google.com |language=en}}</ref>

These computers include:

* [[Desktop computer]]s – A case put under or on a desk. The display may be optional, depending on use. The case size may vary, depending on the required expansion slots. Very small computers of this kind may be integrated into the monitor.

* Rackmount computers – The cases of these computers fit into [[19-inch rack]]s, and maybemay be space-optimized and very flat. A dedicated display, keyboard, and mouse may not exist, but a [[KVM switch]] or built-in remote control (via LAN or other means) can be used to gain console access. Many [[server (computing)|servers]] are rackmount computers and [[data center]]s may have dozens or hundreds of racks with hundreds or thousands of rackmount computers acting as servers.

* In-car computers ([[carputer]]s) – Built into automobiles, for [[In car entertainment|entertainment]], [[Automotive navigation system|navigation]], etc.

* [[Laptop]]s and [[Notebook form factor|notebook computer]]s – Portable and all in one case.

* [[Tablet computer]] – Like laptops, but with a [[touch-screen]], entirely replacing the physical keyboard.

* [[Smartphone]]s, [[smartbook]]s, and [[palmtop computer]]s – Small handheld personal computers with limited hardware specifications.

* [[Programmable calculator]] – Like small handhelds, but specialized in mathematical work.

* [[Game console|Video game console]]s – Fixed computers built specifically for entertainment purposes.

* [[Handheld game console]]s – The same as game consoles, but small and portable.

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{{Main|History of computing hardware}}The history of computing hardware is often used to reference the different generations of computing devices:

*First generation computers (1940-1955): It used [[vacuum tube]]s such as the [[List of vacuum tubes#6 volt heater.2Ffilament tubes|6J6]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dyson|first1=George|title=Turing's Cathedral - The origins of the Digital Universe|url=https://archive.org/details/turingscathedral0000dyso|url-access=registration|date=2012|publisher=Pantheon Books|___location=New York|isbn=978-0-375-42277-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/turingscathedral0000dyso/page/124 124]|chapter=7}}</ref> or specially designed tubes - or even mechanical arrangements, and were relatively slow, energy-hungry and the [[First generation computer|earliest computer]]s were less flexible in their programmability.

*Second generation computers (1956-1963): It useduses [[Discrete device|discrete]] [[Transistor computer|transistors]], and so werethus smaller and consumedconsumes less power.

*Third generation computers (1964-1970): It used [[Integrated Circuits|Integrated Circuits (ICs)]], the main difference between hardware in computers of the 1960s and today being the density of transistors in each IC (beginning with [[Small Scale Integration]] chips like the [[Transistor-transistor logic]] (TTL) [[7400 series|SN7400]] [[logic gates|gates]] with 20 transistors, through [[Medium Scale Integration]] and [[Large Scale Integration]] to [[Very-large-scale integration|Very-large-scale integration (VLSI)]] with over ten billion transistors in a single silicon-based IC "chip".

*Fourth generation computers(1971–present): It uses [[Microprocessor]]s, as millions of ICs were built onto a single silicon-based chip. Since then form factor of computers reduced, task processing & graphic rendering improved and it became more battery-powered with the advent of personal mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones etc.

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==External links==

* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130211060637/http://www.byte-notes.com/four-types-computers Four types of Computers]}}

{{Computer sizes}}