6. categories of computers

CATEGORIES OF
COMPUTERS
Lesson 6
By: Manolo L. Giron
ZAMBALES NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

 LEARNING OUTCOMES
 At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
1. Differentiate among types, sizes, and functions of computers in each of these
categories: personal computers (desktop), mobile computers and mobile devices,
game consoles, servers, mainframes, supercomputers, and embedded computers
Manolo L. Giron RMTU

COMPUTERS IN SEVEN
CATEGORIES
personal computers (desktop)
mobile computers and mobile devices
game consoles
servers
mainframes
supercomputers
embedded computers

PERSONAL COMPUTERS (DESKTOP)
 A personal computer is a computer that can perform all of its
input, processing, output, and storage activities by itself.
 A personal computer contains a processor, memory, and one
or more input, output, and storage devices.
 Personal computers also often contain a communications
device.
 Two types of personal computers are desktop computers
and notebook computers.

DESKTOP COMPUTERS
 A desktop computer is designed so that the
system unit, input devices, output devices,
and any other devices fit entirely on or
under a desk or table.
 In some models, the monitor sits on top of
the system unit, which is placed on the
desk.
 The more popular style of system unit is
the tall and narrow tower, which can sit on
the floor vertically.

MOBILE COMPUTERS AND MOBILE
DEVICES
 A mobile computer is a personal computer you can carry
from place to place.
 A mobile device is a computing device small enough to hold
in your hand.

NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS
 also called a laptop computer, is a
portable, personal computer often
designed to fit on your lap.
 thin and lightweight, yet can be as
powerful as the average desktop computer.
 Some notebook computers have touch
screens, allowing you to interact with the
device by touching the screen, usually with
the tip of a finger.

NETBOOK COMPUTER
A netbook, which is a type of
notebook computer, is smaller,
lighter, and often not as
powerful as a traditional
notebook computer.
Netbooks cost less than
traditional notebook computers,
usually only a few hundred
dollars.

Tablet PC
 Tablet PC, or tablet computer, is a special
type of notebook computer
 can interact with by touching the screen
with your finger or a digital pen.
 One design of Tablet PC, called a
convertible tablet, has an attached
keyboard.
 Another design, which does not include a
keyboard, is called a slate tablet and
provides other means for typing.
 Tablet PCs are useful especially for taking
notes in locations where the standard
notebook computer is not practical.

MOBILE DEVICES
 Mobile devices, which are small
enough to carry in a pocket.
 Store programs and data permanently
on memory inside the system unit or
on small storage media such as
memory cards.
 Can connect a mobile device to a
personal computer to exchange
information.
 Some mobile devices are Internet-
enabled, meaning they can connect to
the Internet wirelessly.

Smart Phones
 a smart phone is an Internet-enabled
phone that usually also provides
personal information management
functions such as a calendar, an
appointment book, an address book, a
calculator, and a notepad.
 a smart phone allows you to send and
receive e-mail messages and access
the Web — usually for an additional
fee.

A PDA
 A PDA(personal digital assistant),
which often looks like a smart phone,
provides personal information
management functions such as a
calendar, an appointment book, an
address book, a calculator, and a
notepad.
 A PDA differs from a smart phone in
that it usually does not provide phone
capabilities and may not be Internet-
enabled, support voice input, have a
built-in camera, or function as a
portable media player.

E-Book Readers
 An e-book reader(short for
electronic book reader), or e-
reader, is a handheld device
that is used primarily for
reading e-books.
 An e-book, or digital book, is
an electronic version of a
printed book, readable on
computers and other digital
devices.
 Most e-book readers have a
touch screen and are Internet-
enabled.

Handheld
Computers
 A handheld computer,
sometimes referred to as
an Ultra-Mobile PC
(UMPC), is a computer
small enough to fit in one
hand.
 Industry-specific handheld
computers serve mobile
employees, such as parcel
delivery people, whose
jobs require them to move
from place to place.

Portable Media Players
 A portable media player is a
mobile device on which you
can store, organize, and play
digital media.
 For example, you can listen
to music; watch videos,
movies, and television shows;
and view photos on the
device’s screen.

Digital Cameras
 A digital camera is a device that allows
users to take pictures and store the
photographed images digitally, instead
of on traditional film.
 Although digital cameras usually have
some amount of internal storage to
hold images, most users store images
on small storage media such as memory
cards.
 Digital cameras typically allow users to
review, and sometimes modify, images
while they are in the camera.

Game Consoles
 A game console is a mobile computing
device designed for single player or
multiplayer video games.
 Standard game consoles use a
handheld controller(s) as an input
device(s); a television screen as an
output device; and hard disks, optical
discs, and/or memory cards for
storage.
 The compact size and light weight of
game consoles make them easy to use
at home, in the car, in a hotel, or any
location that has an electrical outlet.

Servers
 A server controls access to the
hardware, software, and other resources
on a network and provides a centralized
storage area for programs, data, and
information.
 Servers support from two to several
thousand connected computers at the
same time.
 People use personal computers or
terminals to access data, information,
and programs on a server.
 A terminal is a device with a monitor,
keyboard, and memory

Mainframes
 A mainframe is a large, expensive,
powerful computer that can handle
hundreds or thousands of
connected users simultaneously.
 Mainframes store huge amounts of
data, instructions, and information.
 Most major corporations use
mainframes for business activities.
 With mainframes, enterprises are
able to bill millions of customers,
prepare payroll for thousands of
employees, and manage thousands
of items in inventory.

Super computers
 A supercomputer is the fastest, most
powerful computer — and the most
expensive.
 The fastest supercomputers are capable of
processing more than one quadrillion
instructions in a single second.
 Applications requiring complex,
sophisticated mathematical calculations
use super computers.
 Large-scale simulations and applications
in medicine, aerospace, automotive
design, online banking, weather
forecasting, nuclear energy research, and
petroleum exploration use a
supercomputer.

Embedded
Computers
 An embedded computer is a special-
purpose computer that functions as a
component in a larger product.
 A variety of everyday products contain
embedded computers:
 • Consumer electronics
 • Home automation devices
 • Automobiles
 • Process controllers and robotics
 • Computer devices and office
machines

References
 Discovering Computers FUNDAMENTALS Your Interactive Guide to the Digital
World, Shelly Cashman Series by Gary B. Shelly and Misty E. Vermaat
Contributing Authors
 Jeffrey J. Quasney
 Susan L. Sebok
 Steven M. Freund
Manolo L. Giron 2015-2016

6. categories of computers

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6. categories of computers