Windows Forum
1.what is the difference between micro,mini,super and mainframes computers.
2. why printing in dos is more fast than windows based programs
by loydster
Mircocomputer is what you are most likely on right now. Your standard PC.
Mini computer is high powered. Think Joshua in WarGames, or a government computer made to decypher encryptions.
Super computer is highly powered, used a lot for science, and running simulations.
Mainframes are basically big database computers. You connect to them via 'dumb terminals' basically just to enter information. Basically it is a server made to run a database only. Very specialized.
2. dos is faster because there is less over head. The computer doesn't have to dance through windows, then windows printing, then the hardware to print. It just sends the file directly to the printer.
by ceaser
by james r linn
I'll pass on the definitions question - I think I can define them, but sense you are looking for a text book answer.
As for printing in DOS versus Windows, thats pretty easy.
When you are printing a text file from DOS, you are sending a fairlysmall file to the printer, which then uses a fixed font in its memory to print out the file. When you print from windows, its going to use a Windows/Postsrcipt font, and the file will be larger, as its got lots of formatting information attached toeven the simplest file. It may or may not be downloading the font with the file.
Hope that helps.
James
by james r linn
Re Answer 1.
In the bad old days when I started computing(more than 2 decades ago), Mainframes and minis both used terminals to interface with. The difference between the two was size - number of users it could accomadate, MIPS etc. IBM was the main 'mainframe' computing company. Mainframes were sized to serve whole businesses. Minis were often seen as 'departmental' rather than corporate servers. Anything Unix based was automatically seen as a mini.
Supercomputers were built for high computational abilities, not to serve large numbers of users. They too used terminals.
Later, when client server became the way to develop applications, teminals were replaced by PCs.
Today the lines are all blurred. Certainly the top end of Sunand HP's lines are comparable to mainframes in size. Many high end Intel based servers are comparable to departmental or mini-computers of old, in computing power/number of users.
Hope that helps.
James
by ceaser
by stoobydo
Hail Ceaser!
One good site for you to look at is http://whatis.techtarget.com It has a lot of info for non-geeks.
by ceaser
by thechas
Anser one is pretty good for question 1.
I would differ in the deffinitions as follows:
Mini-computer were designed for companies that couldn't afford a mainframe, but still needed a computerized central system.
The IBM System 370 is a mainframe, where as the System 3X's and AS400 family are closer to Mini-computers.
Super computers are highly specialized high speed complex math machines. The Cray family of computers are the prime example of Super Computers.
Now, the lines have become very blurred. The average office server has more power and storage capacity than the average mini- or main frame running the accounting and payroll systems.
And the latest P4 and Athlon XP's can crunch numbers faster than a 2 year old Super computer.
So now the definition is more defined by the useage rather than the size.
Mini's and mainframe computers run on OS's such as Unix, Cobal and RPG.
Answer #2 took care of question 2.
by ceaser
by ceaser
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