Introduction to Hardware Concepts
Essentially all of the computers in use today are based on the same funda mental
design. Despite their size, speed, or cost, almost all of the computers we use
today are based on a design that includes the following elements:
- Computers process data using some kind of central processing system.
- Computers provide some method of storing data.
- Computer systems include specialized devices that humans can use to. communicate with the processing
hardware.
Computers have been designed in this way since their inception. But different
types of computers can vary significant in their size and processing ca pacity,
cost, and speed. Computers have traditionally been categorized as being one of
three main types - mainframe computers, minicomputers, and micro computers.
Although there are many new developments in computers that are blurring the lines
between these types, we can still place computers generally into those three
categories.
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