Computer and its Types and Classification

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
2. Special Purpose

4.  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

5.  1. Analog - Machines that represent variables
or quantities using physical analogies, examples
are Speedometer, Clock, and Thermometer
 2. Digital - Machines that specialize in
counting, Use discrete numbers, result obtained is
precise and repeatable, examples are digital clock,
digital thermometer, and calculator
 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)

6. 1. Analog
2. Digital
3. Hybrid

7.  MICROCOMPUTER
 MINI COMPUTER
 MAINFRAME COMPUTER
 SUPER COMPUTER

8.  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

9.  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

10.  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

11.  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

12.  1. Albano, Gisela May A., et.al. (2003).
Introduction to Information Technology.
Meycauayan, Bulacan: Trinitas Publishing
Inc.
 2. Andes Sr., Antonio M. (2003).
Introduction to Computer. Philippines:
World Class Printing and Packaging.