Types of Computers

Categories of computer design (2):

- Analog - Digital

ANALOG COMPUTERS: - Usually ______ - As they operate, their physical state changes from a fixed starting point - Solve only one specific kind of ____

- Mechanical - Problem

______ _____ are portable, full-featured computers that offer the functionality of a notebook computer and can accept input from a special pen called a ____ or digital pen

Tablet computers, stylus

______ are specialized, single-user computers with more power and features than a standard desktop PC

Workstations

________ often have large, high-resolution monitors and accelerated graphics-handing capabilities

Workstations

Each server can be a thin unit, called a ______, which is housed in a rack with the other servers

blade

Early PDAs could run a ________ set of software programs

limited

Minicomputers are often called______ computers

midrange

Notebooks fall into a category called _____ _____

mobile computers

Single-user computes can be used independently or connected via ________

networking

Single-user computers are meant to be used by _____ person at a time

one

Single-user computers = ______ computers, or _________

personal, microcomputers

Some SUPERCOMPUTERS link together hundreds of thousands of _______

processors

When requests from the network are too large and complex for one _______, a network may link together several, dozens, or even hundreds of ______

server, servers

Some MINICOMPUTERS are designed for a _____ user; the most powerful serve hundreds of users at a time

single

Most mainframes are limited to a certain kinds of ______, such as storing large amounts of data

tasks

Users access the mainframe through a ______ or a standard pc

terminal

Users can access a central minicomputer through a ______ or standard PC

terminal

Large groups of servers may be called _____ or _____ _____

Clusters, server farms

A ______ is a machine that accepts some kind of information, performs actions and calculations according to a set of instructions, and returns the results of its calculations

Computer

_______ computing devices small enough to fit in your hand, limited processing power

Handheld PCs

________ ______ are large, powerful systems used in organizations where users frequently need to use the same data

Mainframe computers

_____ offer capabilities between those of a mainframe and a personal computer

Minicomputers/midrange

______-_____ ________ may be devoted to a single purpose or a wide variety of tasks

Multi-user computers

______-______ ______ = the largest organizational computers support thousands of individual users at the same time, with some working from thousands of miles away.

Multi-user computers

______ are a variation of notebooks that offer compact size and lower price, but have less processing power

Netbooks

_____ ______ central computers with special software and equipment enabling them to serve as the primary computer in a network of personal computers

Network servers

Workstations are popular among...(3):

Scientists, engineers, animators

_________ are ideal for handling large and highly complex problems (forecasting the weather, mapping the human genome)

Supercomputers

_________ are the most powerful computers and physically some of the largest

Supercomputers

The ____ ____, houses the processing and storage devices

System unit

The main component of a DESKTOP computer:

System unit

Notebook computers, also known as ______

laptops

DIGITAL COMPUTERS: - MOST COMPUTERS TODAY - Process sequences of _______ - Convert ____ into numeric codes used in calculations - Rely on ______, not _____ components - Extremely ____ and flexible

- Numbers - Input - Electrical, mechanical - Fast

MAINFRAMES are used at: - Many large ______, like banks - ________ companies - ______ and _____ sector - ______ companies process data on a mainframe

- corporations - Insurance - Travel, retail - Telecom

Supercomputers are used for: -_____ forecasting - Animated graphics - Fluid dynamic _____ - ______ energy research - ________ exploration

-weather -calculations -Nuclear -Petroleum

Types of single-user computers (5):

1. Desktop computer 2. Workstations 3. Notebook computers 4. Tablet computers 5. Handheld personal computers

Types of MULTI-USER COMPUTERS (4):

1. Network Servers 2. Mainframe computers 3. Minicomputers (midrange) 4. Supercomputers

4 types of computers:

1. Supercomputer 2. Mainframe computers 3. Midrange computers 4. Personal computers

A(n) ________ terminal can perform some processing operations but usually doesn't have storage

Intelligent

The handheld PCs of the 1990s and early 2000s were commonly known as _____ ______ _____

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

The largest MAINFRAMES can handle the processing needs of _______ of users at a time

Thousands

The fastest can perform nearly 2 quadrillion _______ per second

calculations

These ________ don't need keyboards and screens, so they may not be contained in a big case like a typical PC.

clusters

Some notebooks may be plugged into a ______ _____, which lets a notebook hook up to devices and services such as a full-sized keyboard, large monitor, and local network

docking station

A(n) _____ terminal is strictly an INPUT/OUTPUT device

dumb