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minicomputermore about minicomputer

minicomputer


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  minicomputer 
  n  :  mid-sized  digital  computer 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  minicomputer 
 
    A  computer  built  between  about  1963  and  1987, 
  smaller  and  less  powerful  than  a  {mainframe},  typically  about 
  the  size  and  shape  of  a  wardrobe,  mounted  in  a  single  tall 
  rack. 
 
  Minicomputers  were  characterised  by  short  {word}  lengths  of  8 
  to  32  {bit}s,  limited  hardware  and  software  facilities  and 
  small  physical  size.  Their  low  cost  made  them  suitable  for  a 
  wide  variety  of  applications  such  as  industrial  control,  where 
  a  small  dedicated  computer  which  is  permanently  assigned  to 
  one  application,  is  needed.  In  recent  years,  improvements  in 
  device  technology  have  resulted  in  minicomputers  which  are 
  comparable  in  performance  to  large  {second  generation 
  computers}  and  greatly  exceed  the  performance  of  {first 
  generation}  {computers}. 
 
  The  processor  was  typically  built  using  low  integration  logic 
  {integrated  circuits}  -  {TTL}  or  maybe  {ECL},  thus 
  distinguishing  it  from  a  {microcomputer}  which  is  built  around 
  a  {microprocessor}  -  a  processor  on  a  single  (or  maybe  a  few) 
  ICs. 
 
  {DEC}'s  {PDP-1}  was  the  first  minicomputer  and  their  {PDP-11} 
  was  the  most  successful,  closely  followed  (in  both  time  and 
  success)  by  the  {VAX}  (which  {DEC}  called  a  "{super 
  minicomputer}"). 
 
  Another  early  minicomputer  was  the  {LINC}  developed  at  {MIT}  in 
  1963. 
 
  Other  minicomputers  were  the  {AS/400},  the  {PRIME}  series,  the 
  {AP-3},  {Olivetti}'s  {Audit  7}  and  the  {Interdata  8/32}. 
 
  [Others?] 
 
 




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