Classification Of Computers

Classifications of Computers

According to the U.S. Census "Forty-four million households, or 42 percent, had at least one member who used the Internet at home in 2000" (Home Computers 2). Today, no doubt, even more family members in the United States use computers. Most people are aware of the desktop computers which can be found in the home and in the workplace. What are the different types of computers and what are their purposes? Computers can be classified into three different categories of home computers, portable computers, and business computers including workstations and super computers.

First, what is a computer? "While the term computer can apply to virtually any device that has a microprocessor in it, most people think of a computer as a device that receives input from the user through a mouse or keyboard, processes it in some fashion and displays the result on a screen" (What are the Different p. 1). Home computers are being used by children, teenagers, and adults. The PC or personal computer is designed to be used by one person. The term, Mac, is a PC, but most people link computers with Windows software such as Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. A PC is actually a desktop that is designed to be used in one set location. "Most desktops offer more power, storage, and versatility for less than their portable brethren" (What Are p. 3). Many desktop computers are used at home and at work. Various types of software have been designed to meet individual needs of the computer user. The use of home computers or PCs can be for various purposes such as education, work at home, personal communication through e-mail, to gain knowledge about different topics, to find recipes, and even to play games.

The second classification of computers is portable computers. This type of classification includes lap tops and palm tops. The personal digital assistant or PDA was designed to help people stay organized. This was expanded upon and now PDA's offer a variety of services. PDA's are "easy to use and capable of sharing information with your PC. It's supposed to be an extension of the PC, not a replacement" with many different types of services (How PDAs Work p. 1). Many PDA's are even capable of connecting with the Internet and act as global positioning devices. Other portable computers are now available.

Another portable computer is the palmtop. "A pocket computer has to have a small, light batteries that last a long time so that the whole computer is light and small enough to be carried around in someone's pocket" (Types of Computers p. 2). Palm top computers do not have keyboards. They often are designed for the user to use special pens or touch-sensitive screens. "Palmtops are tightly integrated computers that often use flash memory instead of a hard drive" (What are the Different p. 5). Most palm tops are the size of a paperback book or smaller. Usually the palm top computer is designed for specific purposes such as games or personal memory devices. Another portable computer besides the palm top is the lap top, which is smaller than the desktop.

More and more people are using lap tops instead of desktops. These are portable computers that are similar to desktops with many of the same functions. Lap tops "integrate the display, keyboard, a pointing device or trackball, processor, memory, and hard drive all in a battery-operated package slightly larger than an average hardcover book" (What are the Different p. 4). Laptops offer the convenience of use in different situations such as on an air plane, in front of a television set, or in a motel room. "Modern laptops have floppy disks, CD-ROM drives and CD re-writers, and even DVD drives" (Types of Computer p. 4). Laptops often have a mouse