What is a Computer?

A computer is an electronic device that helps people perform different tasks. Computers range in size, type, shape and ability.

Where can we find computers?

Cash registers Gas pumps Cameras Cars Stereos Toys Etc.

Four types of Computers

There are many different types of computers to meet our different needs. They are of different sizes, with different capabilities, for different purposes. Some are portable for ease of travel, while others are large enough to handle great amount of data and in formation.

1. Microcomputer 2. Mini Computers

3. Mainframe Computers
4. Supercomputers

MICROCOMPUTERS
First appeared in late 1970s. Designed for individual use Used for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, running spreadsheets and database management applications Entertainment Apple II introduced in 1977 by Apple Computer was one of the first and most popular PC.

In 1981, IBM PC introduced by IBM became the most popular computer choice of consumers.

IBM PC Apple II PC

2 Classifications of Microcomputers
1. Personal Computer or PC Popular because it is powerful, affordable and easy to use. Different sizes and design - Mini tower - Desktop - iMac
2. Portable Computer Laptops, notebooks, subnotebooks, tablet and personal digital assistants (PDA) Small and can operate in batteries

Personal Computer or PC

DESKTOP

Personal Computer or PC

MINI TOWER

Personal Computer or PC

iMAC

Portable Computers - Using a flat-panel display technology to produce lightweight and non-bulky display screen

Laptop/Notebook Small and portable computer

Sub-notebook Slightly lighter and smaller than a notebook Smaller keyboard and screen Equivalent in capacity

Portable Computers
LAPTOP

NOTEBOOK

SUBNOTEBOOK

HANDHELD PC

PocketPC

Portable Computers

PDA or Personal Digital Assistant Handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax and networking features Typical PDA can function as a cellphone, fax sender and personal organizer Most PDAs began as pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input Used handwriting and voice recognition features Modern PDAs used stylus or keyboard version

PORTABLE: PDA

Portable Computers

Tablet PC Provides full power and functionality of todays notebook PCs Lightweight and long life battery Use digital ink which allows the user to write a note on the screen in freehand Alan Kay of Xerox contributes the idea of tablet in 1971 Newton of Apple Computer was the first widely-sold tablet computer

PORTABLE: TABLET

MINICOMPUTERS
Midsized computer Lies between workstation and mainframe in terms of size and power Capable of multi-processing, supporting from 4 to 200 users simultaneously Ex. IBMs AS/400e

MINICOMPUTERS

FLIPSTART

AS/400

DEC PDP-8

MAINFRAME COMPUTER
Very large and expensive computer Capable of supporting hundreds or even thousands of users simultaneously In some ways, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because it can support more simultaneous programs but supercomputers can execute faster than a mainframe Ex. IBM 3090, Amdahl 5890

MAINFRAME COMPUTER

IBM 3090

IBM 7094

AMDAHL 5860

SUPERCOMPUTERS
Fastest type of computer Very expensive and are used for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations (weather forecasting, animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research and petroleum exploration)

 Top 5: Cray XT4 Jaguar

Speed: 205 teraflops/sec (trillion) Runs on LINUX, AMD x86_64 Opteron Dual Core 2600 MHz processor The unit is stored at DOEs Oak Ridge National Laboratory and is the primary system in the National Leadership Computing Facilitation.

 Top 4: Sun SunBlade x6420 Ranger Cr

Speed: 326 teraflops/sec (trillion) Runs on Linux and has a AMDx86_64 Opteron Quad Core 2000Mhz of processing power house at the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas Austin Used in science research

 Top 3: IBM BlueGene/P

Speed: 450.3 teraflops/sec (trillion) stored at the DOEs Argonne National Laboratory operating system is CNK/SLES helpful for the science based research

Top 2: IBM BlueGene/L - Speed: 478.2 teraflops/sec (trillion) - 4,096 processor, used to simulate half a mouse brain - used at DOEs Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California - use in research in the form of science simulation

 Top 1: IBM Roadrunner

1.026 quadrillion calculations per second. The $133 million supercomputer achieved the milestone with the help of 12,960 "improved" Cell processors (yes, like those powering your PS3) and a smaller number of AMD Opteron processors 116,640 processor cores in total. Speed: 1.026 petaflops/sec housed at U.S. Department of Energys Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico Use LINUX as its Operating System DOE plans to use the computer for simulating how nuclear materials age