Types of Computers: Supercomputers vs Mainframe Computers

Types of Computers

• Supercomputers are the most powerful computers, very expensive, and large in size, with fastest processing speed and large data storage capacity.
• Mainframe computers are less powerful than supercomputers, large, powerful, and expensive, processing and storing large amounts of data.
• Minicomputers are less powerful than mainframe computers, not designed for a single user, with less data storage capacity.
• Microcomputers are the fastest growing computers, cheapest, and specially designed for general usage, with types including personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants (PDA), tablets, and smartphones.

Personal Computers

• IBM invented the personal computer in 1981, which initially ran an operating system called DOS (Disk Operating System).
• Today, most PCs run a version of Microsoft Windows.
• Personal computers are used by home users and office users.

Other Types of Computers

• Apple Mac, introduced in 1984, was the first to introduce a Graphical User Interface (GUI).
• Portable media players (PMP) are handheld multimedia devices that can play digital music, image, and movie files.
• Smartphones are mobile phones with advanced functionality, including displaying photos, playing videos, managing emails, and surfing the web.
• Laptops are small portable computers that can run on battery power, with notebooks being very thin laptops.
• Palmtops are even smaller computers that can fit into the palm of your hand.
• Tablet PCs offer all the functionality of a notebook PC, accepting input from a stylus or digital pen.

Basic Hardware Elements

• The central processing unit (CPU) is considered the brain of the computer, performing most calculations and responsible for the smooth running of the operating system and application programs.
• CPU architecture consists of the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), control unit (CU), registers, and cache memory.
• CPU speed is determined by its internal clock speed, measured in Hertz (Hz) or Giga Hertz (GHz).

Memory

• The computer needs a working memory, called the main memory or primary storage, to store current programs and data.
• Random access memory (RAM) is the main working memory, storing data and programs temporarily, and is volatile (loses data when power is off).
• Read-only memory (ROM) is a non-volatile memory chip that holds software that can be read but not written onto, with examples including BIOS chips.
• Video graphics memory is a special memory chip that holds on-screen pictures.