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Line 14: − + − ===Personal=== − Personal computers are ones designed for use by a single user at any given time. These are the common desktop and laptop computers most people use today. Tablet computers could also be included in this general category. Some businesses will include person computers in a client-server network. In this system, the personal computers are used to connect with a main server computer (or in some cases, a server cluster).<ref name="WorldBook01">The World Book Encyclopedia. 2001 ed. Vol. 4. Chicago: World Book, 2001. Print. Pages 908-94</ref> − − ===Client-server=== − [[File:CERN Server room 03.jpg|250px|thumbnail|A Client-Server Architecture Server Room]] − A client-server is a powerful computer which offers information or services to remote personal computers and workstations. In many cases, client-server computers host websites, send and receive [[e-mail]] messages, store information, and handle all other basic services offered on the Internet. Others perform less publicly accessible functions such as crawling websites and running any number of advances calculations. Client-servers are also used by some companies to store records which are usually only available on their intranet (local network). For example, hospitals will often keep patient records on a secure client-server.<ref>"client-server architecture." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 31 May. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/EBchecked/topic/1366374/client-server-architecture>.</ref><br /> − Client-servers can also be clustered so that although they appear to be one server, a sometimes large quantity of servers are actually running. When multiple server computers are used, the storage, processing, and client capabilities of the whole increase dramatically. This fact has led the creation of many "server farms," which house little other than but thousands of servers. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Corrected the definition of Client-server, which was misleading at best. Broke up classification into classification by hardware and classification by use.
{{clear}}
{{clear}}
==Classifications==
==Hardware Classifications==
===Mainframe===
===Mainframe===
[[File:NASAComputerRoom-1962.gif|250px|thumbnail|NASA's Mainfram computer (1962)]]
[[File:NASAComputerRoom-1962.gif|250px|thumbnail|NASA's Mainfram computer (1962)]]
Mainframes were the first kind of commercially used digital computers, and always used to be the fastest option. They had the ability to process much more information at a faster rate than any other kind.<ref name="WorldBook01"/> However, with the rapid advancement of technology in recent years, these have fallen behind. They consume an enormous amount of space, and use much more electricity than modern computers. In many cases, they have since been replaced with the client-server architecture.<ref>"mainframe." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 31 May. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/EBchecked/topic/358715/mainframe>.</ref> However, mainframes (mainly the IBM System Z) are still used by a number of companies. Although outdated, they are still powerful, durable, and reliable systems. Some have been in fault-tolerant operation for at least forty years.<ref name="interview with DavidB4">Personal interview of an anonymous individual with [[User:DavidB4]]</ref><br />
Mainframes were the first kind of commercially used digital computers, and always used to be the fastest option. They had the ability to process much more information at a faster rate than any other kind.<ref name="WorldBook01"/> However, with the rapid advancement of technology in recent years, these have fallen behind. They consume an enormous amount of space, and use much more electricity than modern computers. In many cases, they have since been replaced with the client-server architecture.<ref>"mainframe." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 31 May. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/EBchecked/topic/358715/mainframe>.</ref> However, mainframes (mainly the IBM System Z) are still used by a number of companies. Although outdated, they are still powerful, durable, and reliable systems. Some have been in fault-tolerant operation for at least forty years.<ref name="interview with DavidB4">Personal interview of an anonymous individual with [[User:DavidB4]]</ref><br />
Most mainframes, including the IBM System Z, use the COBOL language (short for COmmon Business-Oriented Language). This is a very easy to understand programming language. For example, a line of this code is, <code>MULTIPLY HOURLY-RATE BY TOTAL-HOURS GIVING TOTAL-PAY</code>.<ref>https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110121224151AAaIkmF</ref> Although not used exclusively by mainframes, this is one of the main ways it is used. In 2009, 70-75% of the world's business transactions and 90% of global financial transactions were processed by COBOL.<ref>https://cis.hfcc.edu/faq/cobol</ref> In 2016, it was estimated that at least 60% of business systems still used it, much of which was running on mainframes.<ref name="interview with DavidB4"/> Although now an outdated technology, mainframes are still a vital part of many systems.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/apr/09/cobol-internet-programming</ref><ref>http://www.mainframes.com/COBOL.html</ref><ref>http://www.eweek.com/servers/ibm-mainframe-keeps-major-chinese-bank-up-and-running</ref>
Most mainframes, including the IBM System Z, use the COBOL language (short for COmmon Business-Oriented Language). This is a very easy to understand programming language. For example, a line of this code is, <code>MULTIPLY HOURLY-RATE BY TOTAL-HOURS GIVING TOTAL-PAY</code>.<ref>https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110121224151AAaIkmF</ref> Although not used exclusively by mainframes, this is one of the main ways it is used. In 2009, 70-75% of the world's business transactions and 90% of global financial transactions were processed by COBOL.<ref>https://cis.hfcc.edu/faq/cobol</ref> In 2016, it was estimated that at least 60% of business systems still used it, much of which was running on mainframes.<ref name="interview with DavidB4"/> Although now an outdated technology, mainframes are still a vital part of many systems.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/apr/09/cobol-internet-programming</ref><ref>http://www.mainframes.com/COBOL.html</ref><ref>http://www.eweek.com/servers/ibm-mainframe-keeps-major-chinese-bank-up-and-running</ref>
===Supercomputer===
===Supercomputer===
{{main|Supercomputer}}
{{main|Supercomputer}}
Supercomputers are the most powerful computers available, which have replaced mainframe computers. These computers, which generally fill large rooms like mainframes, are generally used by government agencies and large corporations. Since these computers are so expensive, they are reserved for important and complicated computations such as nuclear simulations and weather modeling.<ref name="Britannica">"Computer." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 30 Apr. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/EBchecked/topic/130429/computer>.</ref> Quantum computers are also often considered supercomputers, due to their extensive capabilities (and size).
Supercomputers are the most powerful computers available, which have replaced mainframe computers. These computers, which generally fill large rooms like mainframes, are generally used by government agencies and large corporations. Since these computers are so expensive, they are reserved for important and complicated computations such as nuclear simulations and weather modeling.<ref name="Britannica">"Computer." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 30 Apr. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/EBchecked/topic/130429/computer>.</ref> Quantum computers are also often considered supercomputers, due to their extensive capabilities (and size).
===Minicomputer===
Minicomputers were smaller, cheaper cousins of the mainframe computer. They were also slower than mainframes. Over time, minicomputers became available in many configurations and sizes, up to the threshold of mainframes. In the 1970s, a typical minicomputer cost between $100,000 and $200,000 and could support up to 63 timeshared users. Larger minicomputers had large power requirements and often required special rooms with adequate air conditioning to remove the large amounts of heat that they generated. The first commercially successful minicomputer was the pdp/8 released by Digital Equipment Corporation in 1958. Unlike mainframes, the entire computer could fit on top of a desk. Minicomputers fell out of favor when powerful microcomputers became wildly available.
===Microcomputers===
Microcomputers are computers that use microprocessors for the [[CPU]]. Some used the same instruction set as minicomputer CPUs, but implemented in one or two microprocessor chips, which allowed them to run the same software. In some cases, these computers could timeshare several users just as minicomputers. However, increasing CPU power and lower costs eventually led to the microcomputers being used by a single user at a time and being called "personal computers" (see below).
==Usage Classifications==
===Personal===
Personal computers are ones designed for use by a single user at any given time. These are the common desktop and laptop computers most people use today. Tablet computers could also be included in this general category. Some businesses will include person computers in a client-server network. In this system, the personal computers are used to connect with a main server computer (or in some cases, a server cluster).<ref name="WorldBook01">The World Book Encyclopedia. 2001 ed. Vol. 4. Chicago: World Book, 2001. Print. Pages 908-94</ref>
===Client-server===
[[File:CERN Server room 03.jpg|250px|thumbnail|A Client-Server Architecture Server Room]]
Client-server is a means of connecting computers together (called a "topology"). It is a powerful approach that separates the "back end" computation onto a computer referred to as the server, and one or more client computers which present an interface for the user. In other words, a server provides services or data, while the client is the computer that requests those services from the server. In many cases, server computers host websites, send and receive [[e-mail]] messages, store information, and handle all other basic services offered on the Internet. Individuals connect to the internet using their computers which serve as the clients that use the services of those servers. Some servers perform less publicly accessible functions such as crawling websites and running any number of advances calculations. Servers are also used by some companies to store records which are usually only available on their intranet (local network). For example, hospitals will often keep patient records on a secure server. Some computers can serve as both a server to other clients while at the same time being a client of another server.<ref>"client-server architecture." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 31 May. 2016. <http://0-academic.eb.com.www.consuls.org/EBchecked/topic/1366374/client-server-architecture>.</ref><br />
Servers can also be clustered so that although they appear to be one server, a sometimes large quantity of servers are actually running. When multiple server computers are used, the storage, processing, and client capabilities of the whole increase dramatically. This fact has led the creation of many "server farms," which house little other than but thousands of servers.
===Dedicated===
===Dedicated===