IGCSE ICT - Types of Computers

Very large and expensive

Can be used anywhere Can support thousands of users at once
Use a battery Features Process huge amounts of data
Built in screen, keyboard and touch pad Can process many jobs at once Process data very quickly
Features
Quite small and light Perform millions of calculations at once

Almost as powerful as a Desktop PC Advantages Parallel processing

Can manage huge networks of

computers
More portable
Very large
Don't need constant access to power supply
Advantages
Very expensive to buy and run
Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect to networks compared to Mainframe
Desktop PC Disadvantages Difficult to use
Components use low power
Get very hot and need to be kept in expensive air
conditioned rooms

Smaller versions of laptops

If battery runs out you could lose work
Very small screens
Laptop
Smaller keyboards can be harder to use Features
Disadvantages Very small keyboard
Prone to theft if used in public compared to
Desktop PC No CD/DVD drive More portable due to smaller size
Compact and can sometimes overheat
Advantages
Longer battery life
compared
to laptop Cheaper to buy

Found in the home

Used by one person at a time Netbook

Used for gaming, household accounts,

Features Types of Smaller keyboard can be hard to use

homework, Internet access Computers Disadvantages

Not as powerful
compared Small screen can be hard to see
to laptop
Get better system for your money Smaller hard disk - store less data
Cheaper to buy
Similar to mobile phones
Advantages
Larger keyboard is easy to use
compared Used as a personal organiser
Metal case helps keep computer cool to laptop
Features Used to connect to Internet and sending Email
Generally more powerful Desktop PC
Used for multimedia (music, movies etc)

PDA Very portable - can fit in pocket

and Advantages
Palmtop compared Easy to use anywhere
Not very portable
Disadvantages to other
compared computers Can be used to make phone calls
Need constant power supply
to laptop

Use a stylus to enter commands - can be difficult to use

Disadvantages Very small screen - hard to see detail

compared
to other So small they can be easily misplaced
computers
Very limited in power

types_of_computers_mindmap.mmap - 21/09/2012 - Mindjet