Classification of Computer by Size

http://thecomputersystem.blogspot.com/2009/06/classification-of-computer-by-size.html
There are 3 type of computer in this category; they are:

Mainframe Computers: These are very large computers that require extensive space, and they
are very expensive to buy and maintain. They are general purpose in nature and have very large
computing power, which enable them to be capable of handling multiple simultaneous activities
like batch processing, Interactive processing, transaction processing, all other under the control
of an operating system that provide for scheduling and control facilities. Their main memory is
large and a lot of data and instruction can be stored them.
Their processing speed is high and they can only be used in large organization or institution
where very large amount of information are been processed like banks, insurance companies,
manufacturing firms, universities, etc. an example is IBM 370.

Mini Computers: These are smaller in size than the mainframes but bigger than the micro
computers. They are less expensive to mainframes computers; as a result, they are affordable to
medium size organizations.
Although, most of them are general purpose in nature, some are still been used for special or
dedicated purposes. When compared with mainframes, their processing speed is slower, their
main memory smaller and their capability to support secondary storage system are lower but they
are larger in the same terms than micro computers. They have the ability to handle complex
calculations.

Micro Computers: micro computers are the smallest and the cheapest when compared with
mainframes and mini computers. They are otherwise known as personal computers (PC) because
they are designed as single user system. Their processing speed is the highest and their central
processing units (CPU) consist of microprocessors placed on silicon chips. Present day micro
computers are very complex, powerful, rugged, have very large storage capacity and some of
them are very portable as we shall discuss the types of micro computers now.

http://thestudyguru.blogspot.com/2011/07/classification-of-computer-according-to_13.html
According to size, traditionally computers are divided in four categories, namely,
a) Super Computer
Super computers are the fastest, most-powerful and most expensive computers.
It has the ability to recover automatically from failures.
It has the ability to support several Giga Bytes of RAM.
Unlike conventional computers, which have a single processor to process one instruction at a
time, supercomputers have multiple processors (or CPUs) that process multiple instructions at a
time.
Supercomputers are widely used in scientific applications such as aerodynamic design and
simulation, processing of geological data.
One of the most powerful supercomputers today is "The Cray-2" and Some others are CRAY 1,
CRAY - MP, SX-2, HITAC S-300, etc.
b) Mainframe Computer
A mainframe computer is usually slower, less powerful and less expensive than supercomputers.
Very large in size with approximately 1000 square ft area.
Mainframes process several million instructions per second (MIPS). More than 1,000 remote
workstations can be accommodated by a typical mainframe computer.
Mainframes are used by banks and many businesses to update inventory, etc.
Many modern mainframes have multiprocessing capabilities.
c) Mini Computer
These are also a general purpose computer, smaller than mainframe computer. Medium sized
computer, occupying approximately 10 sq ft of area.
They have slower operating speed, smaller backup storage, limited hardware and less memory
than mainframes.
Minicomputers are well adapted for functions such as accounting, word processing, data base
management, statistical packages for social sciences
More than 50 terminals and large storage capacity device than micro computers but smaller
than mainframe computers. E.g. Prime 9755
d) Micro Computer
A microcomputer is the smallest, least expensive of all the computers.
Microcomputers have smallest memory and less power
Microcomputers are also called personal computers.
The most common type of microcomputer is a desktop computer, which is a non-portable
personal computer.
http://www.123helpme.com/types-of-computers-view.asp?id=159717
Types of Computers

Mainframes

Mainframes
Was the dominant form of computing before microcomputers. They are usually very expensive,
powerful and operate specialist software
Mainframes are typically used by large companies, public authorities and universities for their data
handling tasks. These tasks are typically:

File maintenance:
This is perhaps the most common use of mainframes. Maintaining records is a huge task for institutions.
Records can contain information on sales, credit card status, payroll details, social security details,
health records, stock inventory, etc. These either need to be accessed by different people in real-time
(for instance a travel agent booking an airline ticket) or updated in batches (for instance warehouse
stock levels at the end of each day). It is necessary in such cases to have the data stored centrally and
then accessible by those who need it. A lot of minicomputers are now capable of performing these tasks
in medium-sized companies.

Emulations:
Many physical and engineering problems cannot be solved without the help of complex computer
simulations. These require intensive mathematical work, and so take advantage of a mainframe's
computational power. Examples include weather forecasting, or calculating the position of astronomical
bodies with extreme accuracy. Many minicomputers or workstations are now used for this type of
problem.

General purpose:
Many universities used a mainframe to act as a general purpose computing facility. Each user can then
be given their own area on the mainframe to store files, and different departments can use its resources
to perform different tasks, e.g. predicting bird populations in the Biology department and calculating
metal stress in the Engineering Department. PCs are now used to perform many of these tasks.

Minicomputers:

Minicomputers
Are powerful, special-purpose computers. They were originally viewed as small mainframes - hence the
prefix 'mini'. However, they have become increasingly powerful and have replaced mainframes for many
functions. Examples include Digital Equipment's VAX machines and IBM's AS/400s. They typically cost in
the $100,000s.
Tasks minicomputers might be used for include:

Plant control:
Many industrial plants require a central computing facility to collect data from various sensors and then
to act accordingly. For example, in a chemical engineering plant, as the pressure in one vat increases the
computer registers this, and opens a release valve slightly while also adjusting the boiler temperature.

Network control:
Many computer networks need a central computer which provides storage space and controls the
network using special network software. This is known as a server. The other computers which access
the server are called clients. Such machines can also act as the interface to the Internet, accepting
Internet messages and hosting e-mail and World Wide Web facilities. Powerful PCs can also be used to
perform these functions.

Databases:
As mentioned above, the role of mainframes in file maintenance is increasingly being taken by
minicomputers. Minicomputers can hold databases of records which appropriate people can access.
For the general public it is PCs which tend to symbolize computers. However, most 'heavy duty'
computing is performed not by PCs but by minicomputers. With the growth in networking computers in
most institutions the role of minicomputers has grown. It is in this market that some of the largest
software companies, such as Novell who provide networking software and Oracle who supply database
software, do most of their business.

Workstations

Workstations
Are based on specialized microprocessors and can be thought of as powerful PCs. They are typically used
for specialist engineering tasks. Workstations use a special type of microprocessor known as a RISC chip
(Reduced Instruction Set Computing). This technology, developed at IBM, removes many of the complex
instructions from a microprocessor and has instead a set of basic instructions, which perform their tasks
very quickly. This approach increases the speed and the power of the microprocessor, particularly when
dealing with numerical problems. The workstation market is dominated by SUN Microsystems.
Tasks workstations might be used for include:

CAD/CAM:
Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing have been growth industries since the mid-
1980s. These technologies allow engineers to design complex machine parts without having to produce
an actual physical model. The necessary complex, 3-D graphics require a lot of computing power and
good quality video capabilities.

Animation:
Similarly to CAD/CAM, animations require a lot of processing power which must be performed quickly,
and are ideally suited to the RISC technology.

Simulations:
Performing simulations of processes, such as the behavior of an industrial plant, require considerable
computing power.

Multitask programming:
Any complex programming which is deemed to require more power than is offered by a PC, and which
needs to perform more than one task at a time (called multi-tasking), is often performed on a
workstation. Recent PC operating systems such as Windows NT can also perform multi-tasking.

Personal Computers

Microcomputers are based on a microprocessor and are intended for individual use; hence they are
called personal computers, or PCs. They were initially stand-alone machines, but are increasingly
connected to a network. They typically cost around $1,500. They are ideal for tasks such as those listed
below where the user requires individual computing power.

Word processing:
Word processing programs allow a user to produce professional-looking documents, with different
fonts, styles and pictures. The production of complex and attractive documents is much easier with the
use of word processing software than it was in the days of the typewriter.

Spreadsheets:
Spreadsheets allow a user to create mathematical models. These are particularly useful in financial
planning.

Desktop publishing:
This allows people to create drawings, manipulate images and combine them with text to produce
professional graphic design work, for instance magazine layouts, posters, book covers, etc.

Games:
Although this may seem a non-serious use of computers, games represent a large market. By making use
of the PC's computing power very good quality graphics and complex game play can be achieved.

Servers:
As mentioned above, many powerful PCs are now being used as servers to control a network.

Generally the tasks performed by the mainframes have been taken over by minicomputers. PCs initially
created a new type of usage for the computer; for instance, spreadsheets and desktop publishing took
over from activities previously performed by hand. As PCs have increased in power they have begun to
be used for some of the tasks that required minicomputers and even mainframes in the past.