This document discusses different types of computers based on their construction and configuration. In terms of construction, computers can be analog, digital, or hybrid. The main types by configuration are microcomputers (personal computers), laptops, palmtops, mainframe computers, minicomputers, and supercomputers. It provides details on the key features and uses of each type.

1. TYPES
OF
COMPUTER

2. Computer Types
Computer can be divided into
different types on the following
basis:
On the basis of Construction
On the basis of Configuration

3. Computer Types
On the basis of Construction
Analog Digital Hybrid
On the basis of Configuration
Palmto
p
LaptopMicro Mainfram
e
Miniframe Supe
r

4. On The basis of Construction
Analog Computer

5. Analog Computer
Analog computers are designed to measure
continuous electrical or physical conditions, such
as current, voltage, flow, temperature, length, or
pressure.
Purpose
•Mostly analog computers are special-purpose
computers. Normally they are designed to
perform some specific task not multiple tasks.

6. Analog Computer
•Key component
•The key component of the analog computer is
the operational amplifier, and the computer's
capacity is determined by the number of
amplifiers.
Examples
Wrist watch (if non-digital), your car's
speedometer, pressure, temperature, and fuel
gauges are also considered analog computers.

7. Analog Computer
Uses
The output of an analog computer is often an
adjustment to the control of a machine; such as,
an adjustment to a valve that controls the flow of
steam to a turbine generator.
It is also used in temperature setting to control
the ovens for baking.
They have been widely used in simulating the
operation of aircraft, nuclear power plants, and
industrial chemical processes.

8. On The basis of Construction
Digital Computer

9. Digital Computer
Digital computers are designed to perform daily
routine tasks such as writing letters, sending e-
mails, performing calculations in an office or
creating a database to store large amount of
data etc.
Purpose
•Digital computers may be either special or
general purpose. Mostly these computers are
designed to perform multiple tasks.

10. Digital Computer
•Key component today
•IC (Integrated Circuits)
Examples
Personal Computer, Laptop, Mainframe, Super
Computer etc.

11. Digital Computer
Uses
Word Processing: Word processing is the most
common application for personal digital
computers.
Accounting - Computers are ideal for keeping
payroll records, printing paychecks, billing
customers, preparing tax returns, and taking
care of many of the other accounting tasks in an
organization.
Record keeping - Computers can record
information like inventories and personnel files.

12. Digital Computer
Uses
Industrial Uses - Industrial computers save
considerable time and reduce waste by
efficiently performing hundreds of industrial
tasks.
Science - The research and development
applications are the most numerous. Digital
computers are being used to do lengthy and
complicated mathematical calculations millions
of times faster than human beings.

13. On The basis of Construction
Hybrid Computer

14. Hybrid Computer
A computer which possesses characteristics of
both Analog and Digital computers is called
Hybrid computer.
Some computers combine the functions of both
analog and digital computers. These computers
are called Hybrid Computers.

15. Hybrid Computer
Examples
Cement plant, ECG machine, CNG pump

16. On The basis of
Configuration
Digital Computer can be further classified as:
Micro computer

17. Micro Computer
The microcomputers are also known as
personal computers or simply PCs.
They are also called Desktop computers.
Microcomputers are the most common, smallest
and very cheaper computers.
They were introduced in 1970’s as a result of
the development of microprocessor.
A single microprocessor may carry more than
hundred thousand transistors on a single silicon
chip.

18. Micro Computer
Size:
A personal computer can be placed easily on
any table or desk.
Desktop PCs

19. Micro Computer
Tower PCs

20. Micro Computer
Uses
They are being widely accepted and used in
business, at home and in educational
institutions.
They are commonly known as personal
computers and are usually single user machines
but can be interconnected among themselves to
form a Local Area Network.

21. On The basis of
Configuration
Laptop

22. Laptop Computer
A laptop computer (also known as notebook
computer) is a small mobile personal computer,
usually weighing around from 1 to 3 kilograms (2
to 7 pounds).
Notebooks smaller than an A4 sheet of paper
and weighing around 1 kg are termed
subnotebooks

23. Laptop Computer
Construction
Laptops contain components that are similar to
those in their desktop counterparts and perform
the same functions but are designed for mobile
use and efficient power consumption.
Laptops have LCD displays for output. In
addition to a built-in keyboard, they may utilize a
touchpad (also known as a trackpad) or a
pointing stick for input, though an external
mouse or keyboard can also be attached.

24. Laptop
Uses
Laptops are generally popular among students,
travelers and businessmen.
Laptops are capable of many of the same tasks
that desktop computers perform..

25. Laptop Computer
Examples
NEC MobilePro 900c, HP 320LX, HP Jornada
720, and Vadem Clio

26. On The basis of
Configuration
Palmtop

27. Palmtop Computer
A small computer that literally fits in your palm.
Compared to full-size computers, palmtops are
limited, but they are practical for certain functions
such as phone books and calendars.
They are also called hand-held computers,
pocket computers or PDA (Personal data
assistant or pocket digital assistant)

28. Palmtop Computer
Working
The primary input device of a PDA is the stylus.
A stylus is an electronic pen and looks like a
small ballpoint pen.
This input device is used to write notes and
store in the PDA by touching the screen.

29. Palmtop
Uses
Palmtops are generally popular among students,
travelers and businessmen.

30. On The basis of
Configuration
Mainframe computer

31. Mainframe Computer
A mainframe (also known as "big iron") is a
high-performance computer used for large-scale
computing purposes that require greater
availability and security of data than a smaller-
scale machine can offer.
In the past, a typical mainframe might have
occupied 2,000 - 10,000 square feet. Now the
mainframe computer specially requires a very
large clean room with air-conditioner.

32. Mainframe Computer
Working:
Historically, mainframes have been associated
with centralized rather than distributed
computing.
Mainframe computers are usually large and
expensive computers. Thousands of users can
work at a time on mainframe computers.
For example, IBM, S/390 mainframe can
support 50,000 users simultaneously.

33. Mainframe Computer
Operating System
Special operating systems are used on main
frames such as z/VM, z/VSE™, Linux for System
z™, and z/TPF.

34. Mainframe Computer
Uses:
The mainframe computers are specially used
as servers on the World Wide Web. The
mainframe computers are used in large
organizations such as Banks, Airlines and
Universities etc. where many people (users)
need frequent access to the same data, which is
usually organized into one or more huge
databases.
Examples:
IBM S/390, Control Data CYBER 176 and
Amdahl 580

35. On The basis of
Configuration
Miniframe computer

36. Miniframe Computer
Minicomputers were first introduced in early
1960s. A minicomputer is a class of multi-user
computers that lies in the middle range of the
mainframe computers and the microcomputers.
They are smaller than mainframes in size and
other facilities, such as speed, storage capacity
and services.
Size:
A minicomputer and its peripheral equipment can
usually fill a small room. A minicomputer typically
about the size and shape of a wardrobe,
mounted in a single tall rack.

37. Miniframe Computer
Working:
Minicomputers are commonly used as servers
like a small mainframe in a network environment
and hundreds of users can be connected to the
network with a minicomputer at a time.
Now the terms "midrange computer" and
"server" replaced the venerable minicomputer
designation.

38. Miniframe Computer
Uses
The minicomputers are used in business,
education and many other government
departments. They are also widely used in
industrial and small business application.

39. Miniframe Computer
Examples:
IBM’s AS 400, Hewlett Packard HP 3000 series,
Data General’s MV/1500 etc.

40. On The basis of
Configuration
Super computer

41. Super Computer
Super computer is a large computer or
collection of computers that act as one large
computer capable of processing enormous
amounts of data. They are the fastest and most
powerful type of computers.
Size:
A minicomputer and its peripheral equipment can
usually fill a small room. A minicomputer typically
about the size and shape of a wardrobe,
mounted in a single tall rack.

42. Super Computer
Working:
A super computer can execute one instruction
in Pico-seconds (thousand-billionth of a second).
Mostly they are based on the principle of parallel
processing. They have extraordinary high speed
due to the use of several processors connected
in parallel.
Columbia is a supercomputer built by Silicon
Graphics for NASA. Its main purpose was to
simulate the violent collision and merger of spiral
galaxies.

43. Super Computer
It is composed of 10,240 processors. It has 20
terabytes of Random-access memory, 440
terabytes of storage, and 10 petabytes of archive
storage.

44. Super Computer
Uses
Super computers are normally used in large
organizations, research laboratories, aerospace
centers, large industrial units, atomic reactors or
the places where very high processing speed is
required.

45. Super Computer
Examples:
Cray 1, Cray 2 Cray XMP and CYBER 205