Mini (Mid-Ranged) Computers

 Computer that possesses the same components as large mainframes but has reduced memory and slower processing speeds.

 computers that are more powerful and capable than personal computers but less powerful and capable than mainframe computers.

 The PDP-8 was the first successful minicomputer.  It was created Edson de Castro a computer engineer who later founded Data general..  12 bit  sold more than 50,000 systems.

 First 16-bit minicomputer.  Served as the basis for two generations of HP’s desktop calculators and computers.  It was originally intended as a instrument controller, but due to a relatively small market for instrumentation controllers, and result of its success in the business- computing market. It was re-engineered and introduced as cost-reduced versions called the HP 2115A and HP 2114A minicomputers.

 First emerging in the 1960’s the mini-computer quickly became popular in both the business and science community due to its smaller size and capabilities to get the job done.  The first minicomputer was a 12-bit. It was capable of attach peripherals like printers and could handle word processing and other simple tasks.  The success of the first minicomputer gave rise to other minicomputer such as Data General, Wang Laboratories, Apollo Computer, and Prime Computer

 Small businesses had no need and no space for large mainframe computer systems. So the minicomputer often offer small business with what the needed and could do it with out taking up a whole room of space.  In 1970 an 80’s when the first micro-computers came out they were mostly low powered single user machines running simple program-launcher operating systems like CP/M or MS- DOS. While Minis offered more powerful systems that ran full multi-user, multitasking operating systems that business needs  Minicomputers filled the mid-range area between low powered microcomputers and high capacity mainframes.

 During the 1990s the change from minicomputers to inexpensive PC networks was cemented by the development of several versions of Unix to run on the Intel x86 microprocessor.  Microsoft Windows series of operating systems, beginning with Windows NT, now included server versions that supported preemptive multitasking and other features required for servers.  As microprocessors have become more powerful, CPUs built up from multiple components have become increasingly obsolete.