Classification of computer

1. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
EHTASHAM UL HAQ
LECTURE NO 2
GOVT. COLLAGE HAYATABAD

2. CLASSFICATION OF COMPUTER
Types of
Computers
On the
basis of
Purpose
On the basis
of Technology
On the basis of
size & Capacity
General
purpose
Special
Purpose
Analog
Digital
Hybrid
Super
computer
Mainframe
computer
Mini
computer
Micro
computer

3. On the basis of purpose
General purpose computer
 They are used to perform a variety of tasks
 They are used in solving a business problem as well as mathematical
equation with same accuracy and consistency .
 They are Generally found in home and offices.
 Their uses include preparation of documents ,letters ,reports, financial
analysis ,data recording and analysis etc.

4. Special Purpose computers
 Special purpose computers are designed to perform only
specialized task for which they are meant.
 Example weather forecasting, space research ,air traffic control
,medical diagnostic etc.

5. ANALOG COMPUTER
 Analog computer were commonly used for scientific & engineering problems, particularly in
chemical industry, electric power plants, and petroleum refineries.
 These type of computers are rarely use in current world. For Example:
 Electric current meter, Fuel pump station meters etc.

6. Digital Computer
 They represent data, whether numbers, letters ,or symbol, in binary form and they
work with numbers in the form of separate discrete digits .
 They can be used in different applications ( like commercial , administrative and
Mathematical ) since they can store different set of instructions and program .
 There are Three major elements in a digital computer which help in solving the
problems they are.
 Hardware
 Software
 Data
 Example Desktop PC , not books, work stations ,smart phones etc

7. Hybrid Computer
 The combination of features of analog and digital computer
is called Hybrid computer.
 These computers use analog to digital and digital to analog converters to convert the
analog signals into discrete numbers and digital numbers to analog signals
 Used in various areas of engineering,
 space vehicle simulation, passenger flight
radar system, also used to control robots.
 Example in hospital intensive care unite (ICU),a machine is used to monitor the blood pressure
and temperature of the patient .
 Digital thermometer and ECG machine are example of hybrid computer

8. On the basis of size and capacity
Super Computers
 They are very powerful and expensive and huge size computer
 They are used in complex scientific applications like geological data .
genetic engineering
 They are the fastest calculating device ever invented and are not used for
commercial data processing
 They have huge primary memory and the most advanced capabilities
 They support multiprocessing and parallel processing and allow thousand
of users to use it at the same time
 Their operating system is also very complex.

9. Mainframe Computers
 They are not as powerful as super computers but are extremely expensive.
 They are multi-programing , multi-user and high performance computer.
 They operate at a very high speed
 They have very large storage capacity and can handle the workload of many
users.
 The processing speed of mainframe computers is measured in MIPS(Million
Instructions Per second) i-e 200-1200 MIPS
 They are used in organizations where many people require frequent access to
same data like banks , insurances company , airlines etc

10. Mini computers
 Mini Computers are much smaller in size than mainframe computers.
 They are suitable for small business requirement of a server or host which
supports hundreds of users at a time .
 In business they are used for invoicing stock control payroll sales analysis
production planning etc
 Their speed of operations and memory space is lesser the mainframe computer
 Example mini computers IBM 8000 seriesm

11. Micro Computers
 Micro computers are small , low cost and single user digital computer.
 Microcomputers are stand alone computers but they can be connected
together using internet and wires to create a network of computers that
can serve more than one user .
 Desktop computers notebooks , laptops tablets smart phones