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Minicomputer
A minicomputer, also known as mini, is a type of computer that is
bigger, more expensive, and more powerful than a microcomputer.
It can contain one or more microprocessors as its processing units.
This type of computer is mainly used for scientific and engineering
computations. A minicomputer has the capability to serve a number
of users simultaneously. It is also known as a small or midsize server
computer. Some common examples of minicomputers are PDP-11,
PDP-8, HP-3000, etc.
Minicomputer
Clickipedia
A server is also a computer that provides data and other services to other computers. It is
used in offices where many computers are connected to each other, allowing them to share
resources and communicate effectively.
Mainframe Computers
Mainframe computers are very large, fast, powerful, and
more expensive than minicomputers. They can have
multiple microprocessors as their processing units. Some
mainframe computers are so big that they require as
much space as a room.
Mainframe computers are generally used in big
organisations where a large amount of data is used, such
as banks. Examples of mainframe computers are IBM
zSeries, IBM 4381, ICL 39, etc. Mainframe Computers
Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the largest and fastest of all types
of computers. Even some supercomputers require
as much space as a floor of a building. The cost of a
supercomputer is very high. They can process a very
large amount of data quickly.
They are used in very big organisations and
government departments to do tasks such as weather
forecasting and rocket launching. PARAM was India’s
Supercomputers
first supercomputer, developed in 1991. Some other
examples of supercomputers are PACE, Titan, Sunway TaihuLight, Pratyush, Mihir, etc.
SOME OTHER SPECIAL COMPUTERS
Apart from the types of computers that we have discussed in the previous sections, some other
types of computers are embedded computers and handheld computers. Let us learn about these
computers in detail.
Categories of Computers 9

