Types of computer

Types of computer

1. embedded

   • a microchip contained on a circuit board with other components
     • embedded had RAM and ROM and a CPU all built into the curcuit board
       • aka microcontrollers becuase of the roll of controlling the function of a device such as a tv
         • embedded computers are connected to imput and output devices such as buttons and screens

2. super computer

3. mainframe

   • usedby large companies to do complex tasks such as manage and control all aspects of a production line or proccess millions of financal transactions
   • mainframe carry out many tasks at the ame time they also dothese quickly and reliably
   • they work for yeaers without failing
   • the majority of mainframes are made by IBM and cost between £3,000 and £500,000, the electricity cost could be as high as £10,000 per year!!!!
   • originally mainframes was the size of a large room (this is where the name comes from)however modern ones are about the size opf a large wardrobe
   • advantages and disadvantages
     • advantages
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4. desktop

   • a desktop consists of tower unit and a seperate monitor, keyboard and mouse
   • several manurfactures now do systems that are intergrated into the monitor or on the back of a monitor so they can fit in small spaces
     • you cant upgrade these as easaly as a tower, just like a laptop
   • advantages and disadvantages
     • advantages
       • they are cheap
       • they can be customised for a particular need
       • they can be upgraded

5. laptop

   • laptop contains the computer, display, keyboard and touch pad all in one unit
   • they have become more popular becuase they are portable, low cost, they take up less space then a destop and simplicity ofusing them(nowires needed)
   • advantages and disadvantages
     • advantages
       • compact and light to carry around
       • no set up needed. no wires to connect
       • you can take documents videos and much more with you where ever you go
     • disadvantages
       • battery life may be as low as 2-3 hours
       • limited scren size
       • touch pad can be difficult to use
       • can not be upgraded so becomes out dated quickly

6. tablet

   • a tablet consists of a large LCD touch screen used as both input and output
   • tablets include a WiFi and/or cellular internet access
   • runs aplications specialy designed for the touch screen display
     • they also can do things such as word processing and spread sheets
   • the lack of physical keyboard often makes tasks difficult but this can be resolved by purchsing a physical bluetooth keyboard.
   • advantages and disadvantages
     • advantages
       • much bigger screen than palmtop and pda
       • can be used in portrait and landscape
     • disadvantages
       • lack of physical keyboard
       • some models are less portable than others due to thier size

7. palmtop, pda and smartphone

   • all portable embedded computers
     • They are much smaller than laptops but can do many of the tasks laptops can do using simplifierd software
       • most used windows or mac os
   • they have some sort of keyboard either touchscreen or one with buttons
   • advantages
     • longer battery life than laptops
     • very portable being light weight and small
     • no start up sequence
   • disadvantages
     • can be awkward to use as the scrren is ver small
     • can easly be dropped and damages
     • cannot be upgraded
     • not as powerfull as laptops or desktops.