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.