Статьи и перевод (не всех) / 4 Types of computers

Types of computers

Computers can be classified according to the architecture, size and according to their technical development.

General-purpose computers can perform a great variety of tasks.

Dedicated computers are designed for special purpose to perform a very limited set of operations. Dedicated computers are found in automobiles, microwave ovens, navigation systems, and many other applications.

An analog computer is designed to measure that changed continuously and smoothly, such as voltage or temperature. They are used in working engineering problems.

A digital computers processes discrete numbers. A digital signal is discrete but specificeither a 0 or a 1.

A microcomputer has a microprocessor and it is designed to serve a single user. However, microcomputers can be connected in a network with other microcomputers.

Workstations are fast, powerful microcomputers. Many workstations are based on a relatively new and simpler chip design called RISC.

A minicomputer is large, more powerful, and more expensive than most microcomputers. It is designed to be used by more than one person at a time.

Mainframe comuters are large powerful computers that may fill an entire room, with a CPU as large as refrigerator. They are designed to be used by many people simultaneously.

Supercomputers are the fastest digital computers. Supercomputers speed is measured in gigaflops, or billions of floating point operations per second. Supercomputers are being used to design bridges, airplanes, and nuclear power plants and to create complex graphics and special effects for motion picture.