Types of Computer Systems: What’s the Difference?
The differences among computer systems are important for you to know about, because computers come in a variety of sizes and shapes and with a variety of processing capabilities. The earliest computers were quite large because of the crude technologies used. As new technological improvements were made in computer components, the overall size of computers began to shrink. Today, the complete CPU of a computer can be smaller than a postage stamp.
To provide a basis for comparing their capabilities, computers are generally grouped into four basic categories: (1) supercomputers, which are the powerful giants of the computer world; (2) mainframe computers, which are large, extremely powerful computers used by many large companies; (3) minicomputerswhich are the next most powerful – but which you most likely will be required to use in business.
Computers are generally classified into one of four categories, based on seven factors:
1. Type of CPU
2. Amount of main memory the CPU can use
3. Storage capacity
4. Speed of output devices
5. Processing speed
6. Number of users that can access the computer at one time
7. Cost
· A supercomputer can handle gigantic amounts of scientific computation. It’s maintained in a special room or environment, may be about 50,000 times faster than a microcomputer, and may cost as much as $20 mln.
· A mainframe computer is a large computer usually housed in a controlled environment, that can support the processing requirements of hundreds and often thousands of users and computer professionals. It may cost from several hundred thousand dollars up to $10 mln.
· A minicomputer, also known as a midsize or low-end mainframe computer is similar to but less powerful than a mainframe computer. It can support from 2 to about 50 users and computer professionals. Minicomputers and mainframe computers can work much faster than microcomputers and have many more storage locations in the main memory. Minicomputers cost from about $10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars.
· The microcomputer, also known as a personal computer, is the type of a computer that you undoubtedly will be dealing with as a user. Microcomputers cost between $200 and about &15,000. They vary in size from small portables, such as laptop computers (LT computers) that you can carry around like a briefcase, to powerful desktop workstations, such as those used by engineers and scientists. A microcomputer – generally used by only one person at a time – uses a microprocessor chip as its CPU. As small as a quarter of an inch square, a chip is made of silicon, a material made from sand. Silicon is referred to as a semiconductor because it sometimes conducts electricity and sometimes does not (semi means “partly”), depending on applied voltages and added chemical impurities.
· Thus, the smallest, slowest and least expensive computer is the microcomputer, followed by the minicomputer, the mainframe computer, and the supercomputer.
· Knowledge of a microcomputer is especially relevant for people in business today. The microcomputer’s three basic hardware components are the keyboard, the monitor, and the system unit. The system unit comprises the power supply, the system board, and some storage devices such as diskette (floppy disk) drive and a hard disk drive.
Business has seen many improvements in the area of data processing since the introduction of computers:
1. Data can be collected more easily.
2. Data can be processed with much greater speed.
3. Data can be manipulated over and over again with ease.
4. Calculations are performed not only faster but usually with greater accuracy.
5. Output can be produced in more usable forms.
Significant progress has been made in making the computer easier to use by everyone. The effect of the computer on society can be felt in every area, including business, government, law, medicine, sports, entertainment, industry, agriculture, science, and the home.
Table 1 compares the four basic types of computers. In general, a computer’s type is determined by the following seven factors:
1. The type of CPU. As noted, microcomputers use microprocessors. The larger computers tend to use CPUs made up of separate, high-speed, sophisticated components.
2. The amount of main memory the CPU can use. A computer equipped with a large amount of main memory can support more sophisticated programs and can even hold several different programs in memory at the same time.
3. The capacity of the storage devices. The larger computer systems tend to be equipped with higher capacity storage devices.
4. The speed of the output devices. The speed of microcomputer output devices tends to be rated in terms of the number of characters per second (cps) that can be printed – usually in tens and hundreds of cps. Larger computers’ output devices are faster and are usually rated at speeds of hundreds or thousands of lines that can be printed per minute.
5. The processing speed in millions of instructions per second (mips). The term instruction is used here to describe a basic task the software asks the computer to perform while also identifying the data to be affected. The processing speed of the smaller computers ranges from 3-4 mips. The speed of large computers can be 70-100 mips of more, and supercomputers can process more than 200 mips. In other words, a mainframe computer can process your data a great deal faster than a microcomputer.
6. The number of users that can access the computer at one time. Most small computers can support only a single user; some can support as many as two or three at a time. Large computers can support hundreds of users simultaneously.
7. The cost of the computer system. Business systems can cost as little as $1,500 (for a microcomputer) to $10 million (for a mainframe) and much more for a supercomputer.
IV. Using this table, tell about different types of computers.
Table 1
The Four Kinds of Computers
| Component | Micro- computer | Mini- computer | Mainframe | Super- computer |
| Main memory | 64,000-7,000,000 characters | 1,000,000-50,000,000 characters | 32,000,000-200,000,000 characters | 64,000,000-2,000,000,000 characters |
| Storage capacity | 64,000-16,000,000 characters | 4,000,000-64,000,000 characters | 32,000.000+ characters | No limitation |
| Processing speed | 60-1,000,000 instructions per second | 1-5 mips | 5 mips and up | 10 mips and up |
| Cost | $200-$15,000 | $10,000-$475,000 | $250,000-$10,000,000 | $10,000,000-$20,000,000 |
V. Comparisons. Use in sentences.
Comparisons may show equivalence, non-equivalence, the highest degree of something, and parallel increase.
· Equivalence: the following words or constructions are used to show that things or people are similar in some way.
| as... as | are similar | each |
| as many... as | equal to | either |
| as much... as | is like | all |
| the same... as | both | |
| similar to | alike | |
| the same | compared to/with | |
Examples:
2. Laptops are as powerful as microcomputers.
3. Some companies have as many computers as employees.
4. Some companies use both disks and conventional filing systems for storing data.
5. A computer virus is like a virus in the human body. It can do a lot of damage.
6. Many word-processing programs are similar in that they share certain common functions.
· Non-equivalence: the following words and constructions are used to compare or contrast things or people that are separate from each other.
| Not as | … as | greater than | | unequal(ly) |
| not as many | ... as | unlike | ||
| more | … than | not as much | ... as | not the same as |
| fewer | … than | not equal to | | not all |
| less | … than | | | |
Examples:
1. A mainframe is larger and more expensive than a microcomputer.
2. Learning to use a computer is not as difficult as learning to program.
3. A fax board costs less than a fax machine.
5. Desktop publishing is the same as electronic publishing.
6. You can save money with a network because you will need fewerprinters.
· The highest degree: the following words and constructions are used to compare one member of a group with the whole group (superlative).
| the... est | the most… | the least... |
Examples:
1. This is the most popular package on the market today.
2. BASIC is probably the least difficult programming language to learn.
3. The best programs are those adapted specifically to your own needs.
4. Here we have the latest model of our range of high-speed computers. It’s our fastest type.
5. However the most modern piece of equipment may not necessarily be the one that suits your conditions best.
· Parallel increase: the following words and constructions are used to show parallel increase (two comparatives).
Examples:
1. The more memory your computer has, the more data it can store.
2. The bigger your computer system, the less time you spend waiting.
3. The more training you give to your employees, the better they will perform.
VI. The following sentences express computer capabilities and limitations. The first one has been done for you.
· Equivalence. Speeds for performing decision-making operations are comparable to those for arithmetic operations.
1. Even the most sophisticated computer, no matter how good it is, must be told what to do.
2. A computer can perform similar operations thousands of times, without becoming bored, tired, or careless.
3. For example, modern computers can solve certain classes of arithmetic problems millions of times faster than a skilled mathematician.
4. One of the most important reasons why computers are used so widely today is that almost every big problem can be solved by solving a number of little problems.
5. Finally, a computer, unlike a human being, has no intuition.
VII. Read the following sentences. Decide whether the sentences express equivalence, non-equivalence, the superlative or the limitation, then define the words expressing the comparison.
1. Digital Research have continued to develop their operating system, DR/DOS, and it is considered by many people to be a better product than Microsoft's.
2. For the last generation, Silicon Valley and Tokyo have been working to design computers that are ever easier to use.
3. There is one thing, however, that has prevented the machines from becoming their user-friendliest.
4. Clipboard PCs – which, as their name suggests, are not much bigger than an actual clipboard – replace the keyboard with a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and an electronic stylus.
5. When the computer finds the closest match, it encodes the character in memory and displays it on the screen as if it had been typed.
6. There are a handful of clipboard computers now on the market, including GRIDPad, which is sold in the US; Penvision, manufactured by NCR and sold around the world; and Sony's Palmtop and Canon's Al Note, both sold only in Japan.
7. I'm frequently asked which online service is «best» but, the answer is, there is no best.
8. They tend to judge all other online services based on this first service – often preventing themselves from seeing the advantages of a specific service.
9. Each offers one or more products or features that either do not exist elsewhere or are superior to the same features on other services.
10. Judgement is based on what it offers and how it meets your needs – not in comparison to what you're used to using.
11. PageMaker 4.0 and Ventura Publisher Windows 4.0 are both the same price.
12. PageMaker 3.01 has the fewest features.
13. Ventura Publisher Windows 4.0 has a spell check and an auto numbering facility.
14. Legacy is cheaper than Ami Pro for Windows 2.0.
VIII. Expressing contrast and preference.
Read this mini-dialogue.
A: We’ve two types of pocket calculators available. They’re similar in shape and nearly the same in price.
B: How do they differ from each other?
A: They differ slightly in the mathematical operations you can carry out with them.
В: Which, in your opinion, is better?
A: I would recommend this one, it has more features you may need.
When explaining the reasons for your choice of a certain object you may use the following phrases:
Type A differs from type В in shape and size. They are different. The one differs from the other. You can easily see the differences. We have to differentiate between size and function. There are some striking differences between the two models. I would prefer this model to the other one. We preferably use this one. I would suggest trying this method rather than the other one. If I can/could choose, I’d rather have type A than type B. The price is quite reasonable/unreasonable. Type A is more expensive than type B. Which one is cheaper? Like type A, type B has.... Unlike type A, it has no...
IX. Compare different types of computers (Table I) using this vocabulary. Make up mini-dialogues.
X. Imagine that you are a product reviewer for a PC magazine. Decide which word-processing product in Table II is the best, then write a paragraph explaining your choice.
Table 2
Word processors Features
| Product | Price | Spell check dictionary size | Comments |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| AmiPro 2.0 | 445 | 135,000 | Drawing, charting, image processing |
| Just Write | 199 | 100,000 | Table editor, DDE support |
| Professional Write Plus | 249 | 130,000 | Harvard graphics import |
| Upword | 395 | | DDE links with DOS and Windows |
Continuation of table 2
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Word for Windows 2 | 445 | 130,000 | Many DTP capabilities, plus drawing and charting tools |
| WordPerfect for Windows | 399 | | Powerful macro command language |
| WordStar for Windows | 399 | | Keystroke compatible with WordStar 6 |
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