1. Types of Computers

2. What is a Computer?
A device that receives data, processes data, stores data, and produces a result.

3. Examples of first generation “calculators”:
Abacus
Slide Rule

4. …and a
Burrough’s
Adding
Machine…
Advertisement from 1954

5. Handheld devices such as these are also computers…

6. 3 types of computers are used for business information systems:
Mainframes
Minicomputers
Microcomputers

7. Mainframe Computers industry term for a large computer - “big iron”
“modularized” to reduce overhead
used to centralized computer processing
often used as large database servers
Mainframes usually cost hundreds of thousands
of dollars and are manufactured by companies
such as Hitachi, IBM and Amdahl.

8. Mainframe Definition
Large, powerful computers that are used for centralized storage, processing, and management of very large amounts of data.

9. Diagram of a Simple Mainframe Configuration

10. Minicomputers smaller than a Mainframe
larger than a PC (Microcomputer)
have become the “mid-range” server
IBM’s AS/400 is an example

11. Minicomputer Definition
A computer designed to serve multiple users and process significant amounts of data; larger than a microcomputer, but smaller than a mainframe.

12. Microcomputers Also called Personal Computers (PCs)
desktop computing and client-server
applications
can serve both as a client and a server
Sun Microsystems generally is thought to manufacture high-end PCs.

13. Microcomputer Definition
It’s designed for use by a single user.

14. Microcomputers
Microcomputers are generally categorized by the Central Processing Unit (CPU) type:
Intel-IBM compatible (Wintel)
Motorola – Apple/Macintosh/Power PC
Sun Microsystems - SPARC

15. Microcomputers Forms of Micro-Computers: Workstations
High processing speed and performance
Engineering, graphical uses
Personal computers
Less powerful than workstations
Categorized as either a desktop or portable computer
Laptops or notebooks
Handheld Computers and PDAs
Smallest personal computers
Increased power to perform word processing and complex spreadsheet and database functions
Mobile connectivity with wireless telephone, internet and .