Computer Types

Computer Technology

K. Steere

Purposes of Computers

Business purposes/uses

Personal purposes/uses

Types of Computers

Personal Computers

Personal Digital Assistants

Workstations

Mainframes

Supercomputers

Servers

Types of Computers

Personal Computers

Desktop & laptop/notebook

Personal and business use;

animation, sound recording

Personal Digital Assistants

(PDA)

Personal, on-the-go tasks;

appointment calendars

Small, very portable, connect

to PC’s to exchange info.

Handheld

Workstations

Engineers: model airplane

fuselages

Create digital video and animation

Expensive Powerful desktop

computers

Specialized tasks

Mainframes

Banks

Airlines

Insurance companies

Universities

More powerful

Mid- to large-size capacity

Supercomputers

Weather forecasting

Oil exploration

Aircraft design

Scientific computations

Fastest

Highest-capacity

Thousands of processors

Very expensive

ServersA computer in a

network

Provides services (access to files,

shared peripherals)