Computers of this age can be broadly categorized in the following two ways-
• Based on the size of memory
• Based on speed.
Based on the size of the memory, computers can be further classified into-
• Micro Computer
• Mini Computer
• Mainframe Computer
• Super Computer
Micro Computer-
The speed of a micro computer is very low with similar low capacity of storage. Its CPU is a microprocessor. The first microcomputers were built of 8-bit microprocessor chips. The most common microcomputer is a personal computer (PC). The PC supports many input and output devices. An improvement of the 8-bit chip is 16-bit and 32- bit chips. Examples of microcomputers are- IBM PC, PC-AT, etc.
Mini Computer-
This is designed to support more than one user at a time. It possesses a large storage capacity and operates at a high speed than a microcomputer. The mini computer is used in a multi-users system in which various users can work at the same time. This type of computer is generally used for processing large volumes of data in an organization. They are also used as servers in Local Area Networks (LAN).
Mainframe Computer-
32-bit computers are generally called mainframe computers. They operate at a very high speed, have very large storage capacity, and can handle the workload of many users simultaneously. They are generally used in centralized databases. The mainframe computers are also used as controlling nodes in Wide Area Network (WAN). Examples of mainframe computers are- DEC, ICL and IBM 3000 series.
Super Computer-
A supercomputer is the fastest and most expensive. The processing speed of this type of computer is very high, so they are relatively costly. They also have multiprocessing techniques. One of the ways in which supercomputers are built is by interconnecting hundreds of microprocessors. Supercomputers are mainly used for weather forecasting, biomedical research,remote sensing, aircraft design, and other advanced areas of science and technology. Some examples of supercomputers are- CRAY YMP, CRAY2, NEC SX3, CRAY XMP, and PARAM from India.