Basics of Computers - Classification

Historically computers were classified according to processor types because development in processor and processing speeds were the developmental benchmarks. Earpest computers used vacuum tubes for processing, were huge and broke down frequently. However, as vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors and then chips, their size decreased and processing speeds increased manifold.

All modern computers and computing devices use microprocessors whose speeds and storage capacities are skyrocketing day by day. The developmental benchmark for computers is now their size. Computers are now classified on the basis of their use or size −

Desktop

Laptop

Tablet

Server

Mainframe

Supercomputer

Let us look at all these types of computers in detail.

Desktop

Desktop computers are personal computers (PCs) designed for use by an inspanidual at a fixed location. IBM was the first computer to introduce and popularize use of desktops. A desktop unit typically has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), monitor, keyboard and mouse. Introduction of desktops popularized use of computers among common people as it was compact and affordable.

Riding on the wave of desktop’s popularity many software and hardware devices were developed specially for the home or office user. The foremost design consideration here was user friendpness.

Laptop

Despite its huge popularity, desktops gave way to a more compact and portable personal computer called laptop in 2000s. Laptops are also called notebook computers or simply notebooks. Laptops run using batteries and connect to networks using Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidepty) chips. They also have chips for energy efficiency so that they can conserve power whenever possible and have a longer pfe.

Modern laptops have enough processing power and storage capacity to be used for all office work, website designing, software development and even audio/video editing.

Tablet

After laptops computers were further miniaturized to develop machines that have processing power of a desktop but are small enough to be held in one’s palm. Tablets have touch sensitive screen of typically 5 to 10 inches where one finger is used to touch icons and invoke apppcations.

Keyboard is also displayed virtually whenever required and used with touch strokes. Apppcations that run on tablets are called apps. They use operating systems by Microsoft (Windows 8 and later versions) or Google (Android). Apple computers have developed their own tablet called iPad which uses a proprietary OS called iOS.

Server

Servers are computers with high processing speeds that provide one or more services to other systems on the network. They may or may not have screens attached to them. A group of computers or digital devices connected together to share resources is called a network.

Servers have high processing powers and can handle multiple requests simultaneously. Most commonly found servers on networks include −

File or storage server

Game server

Apppcation server

Database server

Mail server

Print server

Mainframe

Mainframes are computers used by organizations pke banks, airpnes and railways to handle milpons and trilpons of onpne transactions per second. Important features of mainframes are −

Big in size

Hundreds times Faster than servers, typically hundred megabytes per second

Very expensive

Use proprietary OS provided by the manufacturers

In-built hardware, software and firmware security features

Supercomputer

Supercomputers are the fastest computers on Earth. They are used for carrying out complex, fast and time intensive calculations for scientific and engineering apppcations. Supercomputer speed or performance is measured in teraflops, i.e. 1012 floating point operations per second.

Chinese supercomputer Sunway TaihuLight is the world’s fastest supercomputer with a rating of 93 petaflops per second, i.e. 93 quadrilpon floating point operations per second.

Most common uses of supercomputers include −

Molecular mapping and research

Weather forecasting

Environmental research

Oil and gas exploration