List of computer size categories
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This list of computer size categories attempts to list commonly used categories of computer by size, in descending order of size. Of course, one generation's "supercomputer" is the next generation's "mainframe", and a "PDA" does not have the same set of functions as a "laptop", but the list should have some recognition value. It also ranks some more obscure computer sizes.
Mainframe computers
Mainframe computers are large and expensive but powerful, so they can handle hundreds and thousands of connected users at the same time.
Microcomputers
- Tower PC
- Mid-Tower PC
- Mini-Tower PC
- Server
- Workstation
- Personal computer (PC)
- Desktop computer -- see computer form factor for some standardized sizes of desktop computers
- Home computer
Mobile computers
- Desktop replacement computer or desknote
- Laptop computer
- Notebook computer
- Subnotebook computer, also known as a Kneetop computer; clamshell varieties may also be known as minilaptop or ultraportable laptop computers
- Tablet personal computer
- "slabtop" computers including "word-processing keyboards" and the TRS-80 Model 100
- Handheld computers, which include the classes:
- Ultra-mobile personal computer, or UMPC
- Personal digital assistant or enterprise digital assistant, which include:
- Electronic organizer
- Pocket computer
- Calculator, which includes the class:
- Graphing calculator
- Scientific calculator
- Programmable calculator
- Accounting / Financial Calculator
- Handheld game console
- Portable media player
- Portable data terminal
- Information appliance
- Q Smartphone,(QWERTY Smartphone) a class of mobile phone
- Smartphone, a class of mobile phone
- Wearable computer
- Notebook computer
- Single board computer
- Wireless sensor network components
- Plug computer
- Microcontroller
- Smartdust
- Nanocomputer
Others
- Deskside computer - often strd. rack width but less than half of the typical rack height, esp. for mid-range servers (e.g. RS/6000 7025-F80), visualisation (e.g. Onyx Deskside) or vector processing (e.g. SX-6i).
- Cart computer
- Microsoft Sphere
- Rackmount/Framemount computer
- Multimedia server
- Blade server
- Blade PC
- Small form factor personal computer (SFF, ITX, DTX.etc.)
Distinctive marks
The classes above are not rigid; there are "edge devices" in most of them. For instance, the "subnotebook" category can usually be distinguished from the "PDA" category because a subnotebook has a keyboard and a PDA has not; however, tablet PCs may be larger than subnotebooks (making it seemingly correct to classify them as laptops) and also lack a keyboard, while devices such as the Handspring Treo 600 have something that might charitably be called a keyboard, but are still definitely in the "smartphone" category.
In the higher end of the spectrum, this informal rule might help:
- You can throw a laptop
- You can lift a workstation
- You can tilt a minicomputer
- You cannot move a mainframe
Categories
- Category:Supercomputers
- Category:Mainframe computers
- Category:Minicomputers
- Category:Desktop computers
- Category:Cart computers
- Category:Portable computers
- Category:Mobile computers
- Category:Desktop replacement computers
- Category:Laptops
- Category:Tablet computers
- Category:Subnotebooks
- Category:Handheld computers
- Category:Pocket computers
- Category:Personal digital assistants
- Category:Enterprise Digital Assistants
- Category:Handheld PCs
- Category:Palmtops
- Category:Calculators
- Category:Handheld game consoles
- Category:Pocket PCs
- Category:Portable data terminals
- Category:Electronic organizers
- Category:Information appliances
- Category:Wearable computers
- Category:Embedded systems
- Category:Wireless sensor network
- Category:Smartdust
- Category:Nanocomputer
References
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