minicomputer

3 definitions found

minicomputer - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  minicomputer \minicomputer\ n. (Computers)
     a mid-sized digital computer; at any given point in the
     development of computer technology, a minicomputer will be
     faster and have greater capacity than a microcomputer, but
     will be slower and have less capacity than a mainframe computer
     .
     [WordNet 1.5]

minicomputer - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  minicomputer
      n 1: a digital computer of medium size

minicomputer - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  minicomputer
  
     <computer> 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 bits, 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?]
  
     (2004-05-12)