Page 6 - gyamfi series vol. 2

INFORMATION AND COMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY GYAMFI SERIES
CLASSIFICATION BY PURPOSE
There are two main purposes of computers:

 General purpose of computers: they are used to solve a wider range of
problems.it is
normally used for tasks such as budgeting, payroll, banking, scientific,
analysis, watching
movies and solving mathematics problems.

 Special purpose computers: this kind of computer is designed to perform a
particular task
or restricted classes of problems. They are employed in manufacturing and
designing in a
form of robots.

CLASSIFICATION BY CAPACITY/SIZE

 Micro Computer is a small computer. Your personal computerS
are equivalent to the microcomputer. Mainframe and Mini
Computer is ancestor of MICROCOMPUTER. Integrated Circuit
fabrication technology reduces the size of Mainframe and
Minicomputer.
Technically, a microcomputer is a computer in which the CPU
(central processing unit, the brains of the computer) is contained
on one single chip, a microprocessor, input/output devices and
storage (memory) unit. All these components are important for a
proper working of microcomputer.
Microcomputer or Personal Computer: this is the smallest
version of computers and the
cheapest system. E.g. desktop computers, notebook and personal digital assistance.
 Minicomputers: these are larger and more powerful than the
microcomputers. They are
physically small and less powerful than mainframe computers and
are capable of
multiprogramming.

 Mainframe computers: is powerful than minicomputers.
The mainframe computer is used
principally by large organizations such as Airlines, Hospitals,
Manufacturing Companies and
computer service organizations.
Mainframe computers or
mainframes (colloquially referred to as "big iron") are

computers used primarily by large organizations for critical
applications; bulk data processing, such as census, industry
and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning; and
transaction processing. They are larger and have more processing
power than some other classes of computers: minicomputers,
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