Abstract
Minicomputers are cheaper, smaller and easier to install than main-frame machines, but need be very little inferior in raw computing power. Minicomputers are therefore increasingly used for all the same purposes as main-frames. In addition there are several areas of application for which the minicomputer is particularly suitable because of its low cost, reliability and simplicity of operation. These applications are all ‘dedicated’; that is, the minicomputer is installed for one purpose only, and is not switched from program to program like a general-purpose computer.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1980 Andrew J. T. Colin
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Colin, A.J.T. (1980). Minicomputers. In: Fundamentals of Computer Science. Macmillan Computer Science Series. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16350-2_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16350-2_17
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-30503-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-16350-2
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)