Classification of computer

1. Based on Working Principle/Function:

Digital Computers:   

The digital computers deal with discrete quantities such as beads on an abacus or electrical pulses. The digital computers are the computers that we program and use. These computers accept digital data, process them and produce the result to the user. This type of computers is used in business application. The accuracy of digital computer is high.

Analog Computers:   

 The analog computer deals with continuous physical variables such as electrical voltages or mechanical shaft rotations. The computation with analog computers depends on the relation of information to a measurement of some physical quantity. The computers are mostly used for process control application, equation solution etc.

Hybrid Computers:      

The computer works in the principles of both analog and digital computers. These types of computers are used in the industrial, jet plane etc.

2. Based on Size And Speed

 Supercomputer:    

Supercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest computers currently available in the world. It is very expensive and employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations.

Mainframe:

 Mainframe was a term originally referring to the cabinet containing the central processor unit or main frame of a room-filling Stone Age batch machine. The mainframe is a very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously. The mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently.

Minicomputer:

It is a midsize computer. In the past decade, the large minicomputers and small mainframes has considered same, however as the distinction between small minicomputers and workstation. A minicomputer is a multiprocessing system capable of supporting from up to 200 users simultaneously.

Microcomputer or Personal Computer:

The PC can be defined as a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user it is common to link them together to form a network. The PC is used for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database management application, playing games and recently for surfing the internet.

3. On Basis Of Brand

 IBM Computer:

The IBM was established in 1923 by Dr. Hermann Hollerith. The IBM is the largest computer manufacturing company in the world  which introduced wide variety of personal computers and mainframe computers. It has introduced two categories of computers as follows:

                                    IBM PC

                                    IBM compatible

Apple/ Macintosh Computer:

 The apple corporation was established in 1970 AD in USA. The corporation had designed architecturally different computer the IBM's known as Mac/apple computer.

4. ON The Basis Of Model

XT:

The extended technology based computers are slower for processing based on old technology. The computers contain 4-bit microprocessor as processing unit.

AT:

The advanced technology computers are based new computer technology.  These computers are faster and operated with any software. They were used 80286, 80486, Pentium I, PII, PIII microprocessor as processing unit.

 PS/2:

 The PS/2 is the refinement of AT computers. These models were built after 1990s and mostly used in laptop computers.