Classification of computers by size.

v Super computer Super computers can process huge amounts of data, The biggest in size, the most expensive in price than any other is classified and known as super computer. It can process trillions of instructions in seconds. This computer is not used as a PC in a home neither by a student in a college. Governments specially use this type of computer for their different calculations and heavy jobs. Different industries also use this huge computer for designing their products. In most of the Hollywoods movies it is used for animation purposes. This kind of computer is also helpful for forecasting weather reports worldwide. v Mainframes Another giant in computers after the super computer is Mainframe, which can also process millions of instructions per second and is capable of accessing billions of data. This computer is commonly used in big hospitals, air line reservation companies, and many other huge companies prefer mainframe because of its capability of retrieving data on a huge basis. This is normally to expensive and out of reach from a salary-based person who wants a computer for his home. This kind of computer can cost thousands of dollars. v Minicomputer This computer is next in line but offers less than mainframe in work and performance. These are the computers which are mostly preferred by the small type of business personals, colleges, etc. v Personal computers Almost all the computer users are familiar with the personal computers. They normally know what the personal computer is and what are its functions. This is the computer mostly preferred by the home users. These computers are lesser in cost than the computers given above and also, small in size; they are also called PCs in short for Personal computers. This computer is small in size and you can easily arrange it to fit in your single bedroom with its all accommodation. Today this is thought to be the most popular computer in all. v Notebook computers Having a small size and low weight the notebook is easy to carry to anywhere. A student can take it with him/her to his/her school in his/her bag with his/her book. This is easy to carry around and preferred by students and business people to meet their assignments and other necessary tasks. The approach of this computer is also the same as the Personal computer. It can store the same amount of data and having a memory of the same size as that of a personal computer. One can say that it is the replacement of personal desktop computer. Computers can be classified, or typed, many ways. Some common classifications are summarized below. For others see Category:Classes of computers.

Classes by size
Microcomputers (personal computers)
Microcomputers are the most common type of computers used by people today, whether in a workplace, at school or on the desk at home. The term microcomputer was introduced with the advent of single chip microprocessors. The term "microcomputer" itself is now practically ananachronism. These computers include: Desktop computers A case and a display, put under and on a desk. In-car computers (carputers) Built into a car, for entertainment, navigation, etc. Game consoles Fixed computers specialized for entertainment purposes (video games).

A separate class is that of mobile devices: Laptops, notebook computers and Palmtop computers Portable and all in one case. Varying sizes, but other than smartbooks expected to be full computers without limitations. Tablet computer Like laptops, but with a touch-screen, sometimes entirely replacing the physical keyboard. Smartphones, smartbooks and PDAs (personal digital assistants) Small handheld computers with limited hardware. Programmable calculator Like small handhelds, but specialised on mathematical work. Handheld game consoles The same as game consoles, but small and portable.

Minicomputers (midrange computers)

A minicomputer (colloquially, mini) is a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the smallest multi-user systems (mainframe computers) and the largest single-user systems (microcomputers or personal computers). The contemporary term for this class of system is midrange computer, such as the higher-end SPARC, POWER and Itanium -based systems fromOracle Corporation, IBM and Hewlett-Packard. E.g.Laboratory computers

Mainframe computers
The term mainframe computer was created to distinguish the traditional, large, institutional computer intended to service multiple users from the smaller, single user machines. These computers are capable of handling and processing very large amounts of data quickly. Mainframe computers are used in large institutions such as government, banks and large corporations. They are measured in MIPS (million instructions per second) and respond to up to 100s of millions of users at a time.

Supercomputer
A supercomputer is focused on performing tasks involving intense numerical calculations such as weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, nuclear simulations, theoretical astrophysics, and complex scientific computations. A supercomputer is a computer that is at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation. The term supercomputer itself is rather fluid, and the speed of today's supercomputers tends to become typical of tomorrow's ordinary computer. Supercomputer processing speeds are measured in floating point operations per second orFLOPS. An example of a floating point operation is the calculation of mathematical equations in real numbers. In terms of computational capability, memory size and speed, I/O technology, and topological issues such as bandwidth and latency, supercomputers are the most powerful, are very expensive, and not cost-effective just to perform batch or transaction processing. Transaction processing is handled by less powerful computers such as server computers or mainframes. Computer ------------------------------------------- Analog Digital Hybrid 1.Super Computers 2.Mainframe Computers 3.Mini Computers 4.Micro Computers

Classes by function
Servers
Server usually refers to a computer that is dedicated to provide a service. For example, a computer dedicated to a database may be called a "database server". "File servers" manage a large collection of computer files. "Web servers" process web pages and web applications. Many smaller servers are actually personal computers that have been dedicated to provide services for other computers.

Workstations
Workstations are computers that are intended to serve one user and may contain special hardware enhancements not found on a personal computer.

Information appliances
Information appliances are computers specially designed to perform a specific user-friendly function such as playing music, photography, orediting text. The term is most commonly applied to mobile devices, though there are also portable and desktop devices of this class.

Embedded computers
Embedded computers are computers that are a part of a machine or device. Embedded computers generally execute a program that is stored innon-volatile memory and is only intended to operate a specific machine or device. Embedded computers are very common. Embedded computers are typically required to operate continuously without being reset or rebooted, and once employed in their task the software usually cannot be modified. An automobile may contain a number of embedded computers; however, a washing machine and a DVD player would contain only one. The central processing units (CPUs) used in embedded computers are often sufficient only for the computational requirements of the specific application and may be slower and cheaper than CPUs found in a personal computer.

What is the difference between an operating system and a program?

Many computer users seem confused as to what exactly their computer is running and why. If you ask some people what operating system they use their answers will vary from Windows 2010, Windows 2007, Windows Vista and even to facebook. The confusion is probably due to the naming of popular microsoft services such as Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows 7. Here we attempt to clear up the confusion by highlighting the differences. At its most basic, an operating system is the software infrastructure that manages the computers hardware to make it accessible to the user and to programs. In laymans terms, it is the initial layer of software that makes your computer useable. Your operating system lets you run the computer, manage users, install programs and edit resource management. It also gives you access to all the different hardware inside the computer. Microsoft has designed various iterations of an operating system called Windows. There are three popular versions right now with one in development. Release dates shown: Windows XP (2001. Development has ceased for Windows XP) Windows Vista (2006) Windows 7 (2009) Windows 8 (In development) Programs on the other hand are installed onto compatible operating systems. For example, if you own a Windows machine then you will purchase software that works on Microsoft Windows. Or, if you use a Mac, you will need to purchase software that runs on Mac OS. It is easier to imagine the difference between programs and operating systems if you consider smart phones. Your smart phone may be running the Android operating system (which is equivalent to running a Windows or Mac operating system on your computer). Then, you download apps on the market to add functionality to your phone. Those are programs. Some popular examples of programs are skype, itunes, Microsoft Office, Norton Antivirus and Adobe Flash.