classification of computer 2

Classification of computer

A computer is an electronic device having the wide range of sizes and power. It may be classified into different types according to the principle of operation or on the size and brand. The classification of computer system varies with the advancement of technology and changing of time period.

On the basis of brand

• IBM PC
• IBM Compatible
• Apple/Macintosh

IBM PC

IBM PC stands for International Business Machine Personal Computer. The largest computers and others electronic equipment manufacturing company in the world IBM was established in USA in 1924. IBM PC is a micro computer produced by IBM Company. The computers produced by this company are reliable, durable and have high capacity than other computer.

IBM Compatible

Many companies make clone of IBM’s personal computers which are often called compatibles. IBM compatible can use hardware and software designed for the IBM PC. The internal architecture of IBM compatible is similar to IBM PC. The examples of IBM compatible computers are EPSON, ASER, etc.

Apple/Macintosh

Apple/Macintosh Company is also one of the largest personal computer manufactures. It was established in 1976 which was located in California USA. The internal architecture of these computers is totally different from that IBM. They have their own software. In 1984 this Company manufactured a new brand computer which was popularly known as Macintosh. Macintosh became notable for popularizing the graphical user interface. The operating system produced by Apple Company for their Macintosh is called MacOS.

Classification of Micro Computer on the basis of portability

• Desktop
• Laptop
• Hand Held Device

Desktop

The computers having motherboard, hard disk, video card and other component assembled in large scale are known as desktop. It is one of common types of micro computer which is available by many companies for general purpose to all general people. The mouse, keyboard and other devices connected with cable or wirelessly if technology available. Now a day a desktop computer can have LCD/LED monitors and flat CRT monitors are also still available in few computer. There are different size and with different extended features of monitors in the market. The features of portability are not used in this type. It is less portable than other type. It has features of adding additional functions as motherboard has additional slots for devices, additional RAM can be easily added, and hard disk can be added, different DVD, Network Interface Card (NIC), and Blue Ray drivers can be added easily. It has various slot for printer, scanner, and multimedia projector and also have different number of USB ports where USB port devices like mouse, keyboard, pen drives can be easily used.

Parent desktop computers are very powerful than others as they can be used as server computer in many companies and enterprises. The good feature of desktop computer is very high display quality; the CRT monitor helps to produce this feature. By this feature many graphics and CAD (Computer Aided Design) use the desktop computer in their profession. But major problems with the desktop computers are as it occupies large space, not portable in carrying from one place to another and comparison to laptops and handheld devices it consumes more electricity and also make more noise.

Laptop

The first portable computers were dubbed 'luggables', and for good reason. They weighed as much as 28 pounds. Soon, reductions in size created the laptop computer. Laptops are portable, and use less power and make less noise than desktop computer. Overall in functions the both laptop and desktop computer are similar. Both have the same basic hardware, software and operating system too. The size is different as the work done by both is more same.

Portable computing came of age with the creation of notebook computers and laptop computers, portable computers that are small enough to fit into an average-sized briefcase. At first, these computers were underpowered and didn’t offer adequate storage. Today, new models offer as much processing power and storage as microcomputers and even some workstations. Laptops have become very popular. Some people use laptop instead of desktop computers.

A laptop, however, is much smaller and lighter than even the compact PC. Its screen and keyboard are integral parts of the unit with other many multimedia functions. Because of a laptop’s inherent portability, the components of laptop have to be fit and flexible into a compact small space, consumes less power and produce less heat and noise than desktop computer.

Hand Held Device (HHD)

HHD also known as Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) or Palmtops is created to act as an electronic organizer or day planner that is portable, easy to use and capable of sharing information with PC. Palmtop computers called Pico computers, offer reduced size with reduced capabilities. Although some palmtops are general-purpose, many are special-purpose personal information managers or PIMs. Special-purpose palmtops that keep phone directories and calendars and provide calculator capabilities are known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). We can use a PDA to schedule appointments, retrieve frequently used phone numbers, and jot down notes. Most PDAs are designed to accept written input by a pen; the PDA decodes what we write.

A smart phone is either a cell phone with PDA capabilities or a traditional PDA with added cell phone capabilities. There are different operating systems for smart phones like Symbian, Windows mobile, android, ios, MeeGo, Firefox, and others. The advanced smartphones can perform all of the tasks that a typical computer can do, but the limitation of size of screen is its demerits. The smart phones can make to do list, take notes, track appointments, remind you of appointments, perform calculations, store information as you want, and store contact details as name, address, phone number, email etc. It has additional facility of multimedia and conserves power than other. The main use of smart phones is used by businessman, professors, students, engineers, astrologist and others for their daily and professional use. There are many applications which are used by many professional persons. In the market Smartphone of Samsung, Windows, Apple is merely used. There is advancement of application with the increase of prices in smartphone.