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Mainframe Computers
A mainframe computer is a massive computer that
occupies a huge space and often fills an entire room. It
can store an enormous amount of information and is
designed for multitasking with several users working
simultaneously. Mainframe computers usually have
several terminals connected to them. It can connect
to multiple clients simultaneously so that several
users can access different applications running on
the mainframe at the same time without effecting
performance or security. They are manufactured
Mainframe Computers
for commercial applications and other large-scale
computing purposes.
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,
UNIVAC 9400 etc.
Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the largest and fastest of all
types of computers. It consists of a large number
of processors and also occupies a huge amount of
space. The cost of a supercomputer is very high. It
can process a very large amount of data quickly.
It is extremely powerful machine for performing
complex scientific calculations. Calculations that a
personal computer performs in three weeks can be
performed by a supercomputer within a minute.
Supercomputers
They are used in very big organisations and government departments to do tasks such as
weather forecasting, evolution of nuclear weapons and rocket launching. PARAM was India’s first
supercomputer, developed in 1991. Some other examples of supercomputers are PACE, Titan,
Sunway TaihuLight, Pratyush, Mihir, etc.
i + 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.
Embedded Computers
An embedded computer is a special type of microprocessor-based system that is developed
for performing a specific task. They form an integral part of a larger machine or system. It is
different from a general-purpose computer like a PC. Today, embedded computers are used in
various applications. Some commonly used examples of the embedded computers are the digital
camera, microwave, ATM, etc. Let us learn about some of these embedded computers in detail.
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