Classifying Computers

1. Lesson 1.4 of Introduction to
Information and Communication
Technology

2.  Computers may be classified into three
categories namely:
 (1) According to purpose – their goals
and aims for a variety of tasks
 (2) According to types of processing –
their special uses in different fields of work,
and
 (3) According to capacity – with their
ability to perform a task, as well as the
maximum number of programs they

3.  1. General Purpose - handle variety
of tasks, versatile, less efficient, examples
are personal computer, PDA
 2. Special Purpose - dedicated to a
specific task, more efficient because of
specialized programs, Faster processing,
examples are play station, word processor

4.  1. ANALOG
 2. DIGITAL
 3. HYBRID

5.  1. Analog - Machines that represent
variables or quantities using physical
analogies, examples are Speedometer,
Clock, and Thermometer

6. 

7.  2. Digital - Machines that specialize in
counting, Use discrete numbers, result
obtained is precise and repeatable,
examples are digital clock, digital
thermometer, and calculator

9.  3. Hybrid - Machines that incorporate
measuring capabilities of the analog
devices and the counting capability of the
digital devices, examples are Ana-Digi
watches (watches with both analog and
digital capabilities)

11.  MICROCOMPUTER
 MINI COMPUTER
 MAINFRAME COMPUTER
 SUPER COMPUTER

12.  also known as Personal computer
 used in homes, offices; for individual and corporate
uses
 single users, Usually stand-alone to other computers
but generally used to carry out processing for a single
user
 price ranges from 25,000.00 – 250,000.00
 speed of processor is 5 – 20 MIPS
 storage capacity is 32 Mb – 256 Mb of primary storage
 No unusual power required for environment
considerations; may fit on top of a table or desk
 examples are desktop, notebook, laptop, palmtop,
personal digital assistant (PDA), information
appliances, network computers, technical workstations

14.  midrange computer
 For use by companies needing storage and
processing requirements, for more computer power
 Multiple users, less than 100 users
 price ranges from 250,000 – 10 Million
 speed of processor is 25 – 100 MIPS
 storage capacity is 32 Mb – 512 Mb of primary
storage
 Requires controlled environment; Occupies own floor
space, like the size of a file cabinet
 examples are Network servers, web servers, multiple
use systems

16.  large scale computer
 for medium to large size business; Used by business and
government to provide centralized storage processing and
management of data of large amount
 Multiple users greater than or equal to 100 users
 price ranges from 10 Million – 50 Million
 speed of processor is 440 – 4,500 MIPS; May have several
processors
 storage capacity is 50 Mb – several gigabytes of primary
storage
 Requires controlled environment; Requires full time operators;
Housed in a cabinet where peripherals are in separate
cabinets
 examples are Enterprise systems, transaction processors,
super server

17. IBM EM360

18.  Used to compute intensive tasks
 Designed for large-scale complex and scientific applications
 Multiple users
 price ranges from 10 Million – 2.5 Billion
 speed of processor is 4 – 10 times faster than mainframes,
Several processors, 60 Billion – 3 Trillion MIPS, Fastest, most
processing power
 storage capacity is 8,000 Mb+ +
 Requires controlled environment; Space needed may be the
size of a car
 examples are Scalable servers, Cray Computer, IBM Deep
Blue Super Computer

19. IBM Blue Gene/P Supercomputer

20.  Desktop PCs
 Tower PCs
 Notebooks
 Netbooks
 Mobile Internet Devices

21.  are older
microcomputers
whose case or main
housing sits on a
desk, with keyboard
in front and monitor
(screen) often on top.

22.  are microcomputers
whose case sits as a
“tower,” often on the
floor beside a desk,
thus freeing up desk
surface space.

23.  also called laptop
computers , are
lightweight portable
computers with built-
in monitor, keyboard,
hard-disk drive,
CD/DVD drive,
battery, and AC
adapter that can be
plugged into an
electrical outlet; they
weigh anywhere from
1.8 to 9 pounds.

24.  are low-cost,
lightweight,
computers with tiny
dimensions and
functions designed for
basic tasks, such as
web searching, email,
and word processing.

25.  Smaller than
notebook computers
but larger and more
powerful than PDAs,
mobile internet
devices (MIDs) are for
consumers and
business
professionals.
Examples:
Smartphones and tablet
PCs

26.  Living in the Information Technology Era
by Caoili & Tayuan
 Using Information Technology
by Williams & Sawyer