10 Types Of Computers

10#TYPES#OF#COMPUTERS# Introduction#To#Computers#–#Technology#Applications# # # # There are a lot of terms used to describe computers. Most of these words imply the size, expected use or capability of the computer. While the term computer can apply to almost any device that has a microprocessor in it, most people think of a computer as a device that receives input from the user through a mouse or keyboard, processes it in some fashion and displays the result on a screen. Do you know the different types of computers? # Apple#iPad#Air# PC# A# single# person# defines# the# personal# computer,# or# PC,# as# any# computer#designed#for#general#use#by#one#person.#While#a#Mac#is#a#PC,# most# people# relate# the# term# with# computers# that# run# the# Windows# operating# system.# PCs# were# first# known# as# microcomputers# because# they#were#a#complete#computer#but#built#on#a#smaller#scale#than#the# huge#systems#in#use#by#most#businesses.#Personal#computers#come#in# many#forms,#including#the#new#Apple#iPad.# # DESKTOP# A# PC# that# is# not# designed# for# portability# is# a# desktop# computer.# The# expectation#with#desktop#systems#is#that#you#will#set#the#computer#up# in# a# permanent# location,# like# a# desk# or# table.# Most# desktops# offer# more#power,# storage# and# versatility# for# less# cost#than# their#portable# brethren.# # # LAPTOP# Also# called# notebooks,# laptops# are# portable# computers# that# mix# the# display,#keyboard,#a#pointing# device#or# trackball,#processor,# memory# and# hard# drive# all#in#a# batteryLoperated# package#slightly#larger# than# an#average#hardcover#book.#On#the#left#is#a#picture#of#Apple#CEO#Steve# Jobs#holding#up#the#MacBook#Pro#Air.# # # # # TABLET#COMPUTERS# Tablet#Computers# are#ultraLportable#computers#that#are#even#smaller# than# traditional# laptops.# Their# low# cost# means# they're# cheaper# than# almost#any#brandLnew#laptop#you'll#find#at#retail#outlets.#However,#the# internal#components#are#less#powerful#than#those#in#regular#laptops.# Recent#improvements#to#tablet#computers#have#allowed#users#to#view# HD# video,# get# high# quality# sound,# great# photo# capabilities,# and# the# ability#to#share#information,#photos,#and#videos#with#anyone.## # SMARTPHONES# Smartphones# are# handheldLsized# computers# that# often# use# flash# memory#instead#of#a#hard#drive#for#storage.#These#devices#usually#do# not#have#keyboards#but#rely#on#touchscreen#technology#for#user#input.# Smartphones# are# typically# smaller# than# a# paperback# novel,# very# lightweight# with# a# reasonable# battery# life.# Smartphones# have# the# same#capabilities#as#tablet#computers,#but#also#allow#users#to#text#or# make#phone#calls.# # # WORKSTATION# Another#type#of#computer#is#a#workstation.#A#workstation#is#simply#a# desktop#computer#that#has#a#more#powerful#processor,#additional# memory#and#enhanced#capabilities#for#performing#a#special#group#of# task,#such#as#3D#Graphics#or#game#development.#They#may#even#use# multiple#screens#to#enhance#their#viewing.# # SERVER# A#computer#that#has#been#optimized#to#provide#services#to#other# computers#over#a#network.#Servers#usually#have#powerful#processors,# lots#of#memory#and#large#hard#drives.#Servers#allow#many#computers# to#share#a#printer#or#other#devices#without#the#cost#of#having#to#buy# one#for#every#computer.#Servers#also#allow#users#to#share#information# and#files#with#each#other.#The#computers#in#this#lab#are#part#of#a# # network.# # # # # # MAINFRAME# In#the#early#days#of#computing,#mainframes#were#huge#computers#that# could#fill#an#entire#room#or#even#a#whole#floor!#As#the#size#of# computers#has#diminished#while#the#power#has#increased,#the#term# mainframe#has#fallen#out#of#use#in#favor#of#enterprise#server.#You'll# still#hear#the#term#used,#particularly#in#large#companies#to#describe# the#huge#machines#processing#millions#of#transactions#every#day.# Mainframes#store#vast#amounts#of#information.## SUPERCOMPUTER# This#type#of#computer#usually#costs#hundreds#of#thousands#or#even# millions#of#dollars.#Although#some#supercomputers#are#single# computer#systems,#most#are#composed#of#multiple#high# performance#computers#working#in#parallel#as#a#single#system.# Supercomputers#are#the#fastest,#most#powerful,#most#expensive# computers#made#today.#The#bestLknown#supercomputers#are#built# by#Cray#Supercomputers.#Many#of#today’s#great#movies#use# supercomputers#for#their#CGI.#They#can#perform#over#a#trillion# # calculations#per#second.# # WEARABLE#COMPUTERS# The#latest#trend#in#computing#is#wearable#computers.#Essentially,# common#computer#applications#(eLmail,#database,#multimedia,# calendar/scheduler)#are#integrated#into#watches,#cell#phones,#visors# and#even#clothing.#Users#can#use#these#devices#for#health#and#fitness,# navigation,#social#networking,#and#gaming.#Google#can#now#augment#a# person’s#vision#through#special#computer#glasses.#The#glasses#can# stream#information#to#the#lenses#and#allow#the#wearer#to#send#and# receive#messages#through#voice#commands.#There#is#also#a#builtLin# # camera#to#record#video#and#take#pictures.# # #