Click/tap image to expand.
The same comparison as a table (the arrow beside the image indicates increasing size, speed, and storage from the bottom row to the top row):
| Computer System | Size | Processing speed | Storage Capability | Main Use/Defining characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Computer | Largest, taking up large rooms | Fastest computers in the world | Huge amounts of data | Complex simulations for research |
| Mainframe | Very large | Very fast | Large amounts of data | Large organizations with multiple simultaneous users e.g. Banks |
| Microcomputer (Personal computer) | Can fit on a Desktop | Fast | Average 1 (ONE) terabyte of data | Personal, home use by one user at a time |
| Mobile computer | Can fit on a small table or laptop | Fast | Average 1 (ONE) terabyte of data | Personal, home use by one user at a time |
| Mobile devices | Hand held | Not as fast as above | A few gigabytes of data | Personal use, communication |
| Embedded system | Smallest | Slow but sufficient for specialized tasks | Very small, but sufficient for specialized tasks | Provides logic or control for electronic devices (phones, microwaves etc) |
📖 See the full lesson: Categories of Computers explains each type in detail, with photos.
Updates to this post
October 2026 – Added a text table version of the comparison image and a link to the full lesson.
© 2018 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved
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