The World of Microcomputer (1971-Today)

Microcomputers emerged in the 1970s and gained popularity with the introduction of the Altair 8800 and the Apple II. They were a significant departure from the larger and more expensive mainframe and minicomputer systems of that time. The microprocessor, a single integrated circuit that contained the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer, played a crucial role in the development of microcomputers.

Over time, microcomputers have become increasingly powerful and versatile, offering improved processing capabilities, larger storage capacities, and enhanced graphics and multimedia capabilities. They have also become more compact and affordable. Today, microcomputers are ubiquitous and come in various forms, such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Microcomputers have revolutionized the way individuals and businesses perform tasks, enabling efficient data processing, communication, and information access. They have become essential tools for education, work, entertainment, and personal communication.

Definition – A microcomputer is a small-scale computer system that typically consists of a microprocessor, memory, input/output devices, and a storage unit. Microcomputers are also known as personal computers (PCs) or micros.

History of Microcomputer

The history of microcomputers spans several decades and is marked by significant milestones and technological advancements. Here is a brief overview of the key events and developments in the history of microcomputers:

Emergence of Microprocessors (1971): The development of the microprocessor was a crucial step in the evolution of microcomputers. In 1971, Intel introduced the Intel 4004, the world’s first commercially available microprocessor. It was a 4-bit processor initially designed for calculators but laid the foundation for future microcomputers.
Altair 8800 (1975): The Altair 8800, released in 1975, is considered one of the first successful microcomputers. It was a kit-based computer that used the Intel 8080 microprocessor and featured switches and LEDs for input and output. The Altair 8800 became popular among hobbyists and computer enthusiasts, sparking the microcomputer revolution.
Apple II (1977): The Apple II, introduced by Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) in 1977, was a significant milestone in microcomputer history. It was the first mass-produced microcomputer designed for home use and came with a built-in keyboard, color graphics, and expansion slots. The Apple II played a pivotal role in popularizing microcomputers among consumers and schools.
IBM PC (1981): The IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) was released in 1981 and quickly became a dominant player in the microcomputer market. The IBM PC’s open architecture and compatibility with third-party hardware and software made it highly popular among businesses and helped establish the standard for IBM-compatible PCs.
Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) and the Macintosh (1984): Apple’s Macintosh, launched in 1984, introduced a graphical user interface (GUI) that revolutionized the way users interacted with computers. The Macintosh featured icons, windows, and a mouse, making it more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience. GUIs became a standard feature in micro computers, paving the way for intuitive operating systems like Windows and macOS.
Laptop Computers (1980s): The 1980s saw the emergence of portable microcomputers, commonly known as laptops. The Grid Compass 1101, introduced in 1982, is considered the first true laptop. It featured a clamshell design with a keyboard and an LCD screen. Laptops offered the convenience of computing on the go and played a significant role in the growing popularity of microcomputers.
Rise of IBM-Compatible PCs and Clones: Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, IBM-compatible PCs became the dominant micro computers in the market. The availability of compatible hardware and software, along with the emergence of third-party manufacturers producing IBM-compatible clones, contributed to the widespread adoption of micro computers in homes, offices, and educational institutions.
Mobile Devices and Smartphones (2000s): The 2000s witnessed a significant shift with the introduction of mobile devices and smartphones. Companies like Palm, BlackBerry, and Apple brought microcomputing capabilities to handheld devices, enabling email, web browsing, multimedia, and app-based functionality on the go. The launch of the iPhone in 2007 marked a turning point in the mobile computing industry.
Evolution of Tablets (2010s): The introduction of tablets, led by Apple’s iPad in 2010, further expanded the microcomputing landscape. Tablets offered larger touchscreens, improved performance, and a more immersive user experience. They became popular for media consumption, gaming, and productivity tasks, bridging the gap between laptops and smartphones.
Miniaturization and Wearable Technology: In recent years, microcomputing has expanded into wearable devices such

Types of Microcomputers

Here are some major types of micro computers that you must be aware of

Desktop or Personal Computer

Personal computers(PCs) or desktops are among the most widely used types of micro computers. The tower or CPU connects with other hardware devices like the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. So the user can get a completely functional microcomputer for their home or office work. People like to make their personal computers as such computers are cheap and affordable and offer many multiple features.

Now, the computers may get connected with the wifi and LAN network connections. But there is a disadvantage to that. These devices aren’t as portable as laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Workstations

The Workstation microcomputers are one of the top-end microcomputers that can share data with the server. The workstation phrase refers to the function or task executed by many computers in a network environment. These microcomputers are completely interconnected with the rest of the computers in the organization. Therefore, the primary purpose of this computer is data sharing via the business network environment.

Using workstation microcomputers, organizations could centralize the work procedure. Moreover, by gathering all the relevant data, they can increase the efficiency of the official work. To increase the storage space, such computers could also be connected to the other servers.

Tablets

Tablets are one of the most commonly used micro computers and today’s world and 35% of the world uses such devices as their screen sizes are more significant and compact than smartphones and very handy by design. The user may conduct the input and output activity on its LED or LCD that gives touch operating facilities. While talking about the network connection, the user can use the wifi connection facility.

Also, the tablet gives many features like users can access word processing and spreadsheet software. Therefore, it can be useful for office workers and students. Today, many tablets are available, like Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, and more.

Smartphones

Smartphones are a widely used type of micro computer. Today almost 68% of the population has a smartphone. It is a small device that gives a touch interface and many functionalities. For example, the user gets the facility to use the camera to click pictures, call, access networks, save files, and perform many other tasks.

The user can also download the application and use such applications on their Android or iOS-based smartphone on such devices. Today, many companies manufacture smartphones like Apple, Samsung, Sony, Micromax, Xiaomi, Motorola, etc.

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

A personal digital assistant, usually referred to simply as a PDA or a handheld PC, is a microcomputer that acts chiefly as a digital information manager. This type of microcomputer is like a smartphone in that you can use it to make phone calls and connect to the internet, but it offers a stylus and drawing option so you can use it to write information. Personal digital assistants have various mobile information storage features and offer several professional uses, including for health care positions.

A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is a handheld device designed to provide personal organization and productivity features. PDAs were popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s before smartphones became prevalent. While they have been largely replaced by smartphones, they played a significant role in the evolution of mobile computing.

PDAs typically included the following features:

Personal Information Management (PIM): PDAs acted as electronic organizers, allowing users to manage their contacts, calendars, tasks, and notes. They offered features like address books, calendars, and to-do lists to help users stay organized.
Note-Taking: PDAs often included a stylus or a touch-sensitive screen, enabling users to take handwritten notes directly on the device. Some PDAs even offered handwriting recognition capabilities to convert handwritten text into digital text.
Communication: PDAs provided basic communication capabilities, such as email, text messaging, and in some cases, limited web browsing. However, their communication features were not as advanced as modern smartphones.
Document Management: PDAs allowed users to store and access documents, such as word-processing files, spreadsheets, and presentations. They often provided basic document editing capabilities.
Expansion and Connectivity: PDAs offered expansion slots to add memory cards, allowing users to increase storage capacity or add additional functionality through expansion cards. They also had ports for synchronization with computers to transfer data.
Third-Party Applications: PDAs supported the installation of third-party applications, allowing users to customize their devices with specialized software for various purposes, such as games, productivity tools, and utilities.

While PDAs were primarily designed for personal use, they found utility in professional settings as well. They were often used by executives, salespeople, and other professionals who needed portable organization tools.

Today, the functionality of PDAs has largely been absorbed by smartphones, which combine the features of a PDA with cellular connectivity, advanced operating systems, and a wider range of applications. However, the concept and impact of PDAs laid the groundwork for the modern era of mobile computing.

Server Microcomputer

Microcomputers can also function as servers. A server microcomputer is a microcomputer that actually distributes data to computers that are connected to the network. Typically, this type of microcomputer holds large quantities of data to send to connected computers on request.

A server microcomputer, also known as a server microcontroller or simply a server micro, is a compact and lightweight computer designed specifically for server applications. It typically includes the essential components required to run server software and perform server-related tasks.

The key characteristics of a server microcomputer are:

Compact Size: Server microcomputers are designed to be small in size, allowing for space-efficient deployment in data centers, server racks, or other environments where physical space is limited.
Energy Efficiency: They are optimized for energy efficiency, consuming less power compared to traditional server hardware. This helps reduce operational costs and environmental impact.
High Performance: Despite their small form factor, server microcomputers are designed to deliver high computing performance. They often utilize efficient processors, high-speed memory, and advanced storage technologies to handle demanding server workloads.
Reliability and Redundancy: Server microcomputers typically incorporate features to enhance reliability and minimize downtime. These may include redundant power supplies, RAID configurations for data redundancy, and support for hot-swappable components.
Connectivity and Expansion: They provide a range of connectivity options to support network communication and integration with other systems. This includes Ethernet ports, USB ports, expansion slots, and support for various network protocols.

Server microcomputers are commonly used in scenarios where a dedicated server is needed but space, power, or budget constraints make traditional server hardware impractical. They can be utilized for various server applications such as web hosting, file storage, virtualization, IoT infrastructure, edge computing, and more.

It’s worth noting that the specific features and capabilities of server microcomputers can vary depending on the manufacturer and model.

Micro Computer Uses

There are various applications of microcomputers in different areas, such as –

In-Home for Personal Usage

Microcomputers are widely used in the home for several purposes like playing games, entertainment, listening to music, etc.

Business

Micro computers are playing a major role in every sector of business. With the use of this computer, massive paperwork has been reduced. Every organization requires microcomputers to process massive amounts of data like each bank’s employees use computers to perform their tasks in a short time.

It is used in the retail sector and software. It reduces workload as it can manipulate several complex calculations in less time, like tax returns, managing invoices, and sorting out payroll.

Medical Sector

Microcomputers are very useful in the medical field to keep all records of every patient in all areas like small clinics and hospitals. In addition, many lab technicians use computers in much-sophisticated equipment such as X-ray machines and (MRI) magnetic resonance imaging devices.

Education Sector

Today microcomputers are used in almost every college and university to teach students on the projectors.

Several computer centers use micro computers to provide computer education to their students.

Features of Micro computer

Micro computer has more importance due to their numerous features such as –

Affordable cost
Small size
Used by a single user
No need well training for to use it
Less power consuming
Mostly designed for personal usage
Use single integrated semiconductor chip
Less processing power
Produce less heat
Mostly microcomputers are portable
Several software can be run on the microcomputer

Characteristics of Micro computer

There are several benefits of microcomputers such as –

Advantages of Micro computer:

Mostly, micro computer is used to design different software and App, but today developers prefer Smartphone for making them.
Some years ago, totally business of share marketing was depended on the phone call, due to lack using of computer. But now all investor use software, which is installed on the microcomputer, and they are able to buy/sell any stocks on their PC.
Mostly, users can easily assemble and replace all hardware parts of micro computer, and they are capable to fix minor problems of the computer.
Microcomputers are very useful for students and marketers because they use the computer to perform their research work, as well as they retrieve valuable information from internet and store on other software, which is also installed on the microcomputer.
With the help of microcomputer devices, every user are connected to each other through voice/video/text chat and emails. Some online portal like as Facebook allows sharing your opinions online.
Some microcomputer devices have great portability so due to their small size they are easily moved from one spot to other spot.
Due to low cost of microcomputers, mostly all users are eligible to buy them.
Microcomputer allows to multitasking environment for example single machine is able to perform several tasks such as printing and scanning any document, surfing internet, ticket reservation, watching movie, playing and making games, and more.
Microcomputers save time for users because they are able to calculate complicated calculation in few time with accurate.
Microcomputers are small size than other computers such as mainframe and supercomputers.

Disadvantages of Micro computer

Here, we will spread light on the various limitations of micro computer such as –

It has slow computational power compare to other types of computers.
Due to daily usage of microcomputer, mostly people get addicted to some gambling games and misuse of internet.
It has not large storage capacity, if anytime user needs to store extra data then required external storage component.
Microcomputer has less computing performance due to use low performing processor.
Users can get physical problems such as neck and back pain, eye stain.
All motherboards are designed for different types of processors, so users can get problems while upgrading PC for getting higher performance.
Microcomputer has not strong protection power, so intruders can easily steal your data with spreading virus on your computers.
Today, under 18+ children can use adult content on the internet, and other restricted data are published online which are not authorized by government.

Microcomputers vs. Microcontrollers

A microcontroller is an integrated circuit (IC) designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system. These single chips have onboard RAM, ROM and peripherals.

Microcontrollers have been referred to as single microcomputers.

Microcomputers vs. Microprocessors

A microprocessor is a computer processor on a microchip that contains all or most CPU functions. Microprocessors do not have RAM, ROM or other peripherals. As such, microprocessors cannot perform standalone tasks. Rather, systems such as microcomputers, which contain microprocessors, can be programmed to perform functions on data by writing specific instructions for their microprocessors into their memory.

A microcomputer can technically be described as the combination of a microprocessor and its peripheral I/O devices, circuitry and memory — just not on a single chip.

Microcomputers vs. Minicomputers

While microcomputers generally refer to laptops or desktops, minicomputers were a variety of computer primarily used in the 1960s to 1980s. Minicomputers were larger than microcomputers — some stood more than 6 feet tall and weighted up to 700 pounds — and boasted higher processing speeds at a significantly smaller size and price than mainframes and supercomputers available at the time. While microcomputers were often used at home and in the office, minicomputers were primarily found in academia, research labs and small companies, and they were used for word processing, accounting and teaching aids.

Digital Equipment Corporation’s Programmed Data Processor-1, or PDP-1, was announced in 1960 and sold for $120,000 ($1,021,776 in 2018 dollars). Its descendent, the PDP-8, was introduced in 1965 and sold for nearly $18,500 ($148,022 in 2018 dollars). Considered one of the most successful minicomputers and first example of a commercial minicomputer, the 12-bit PDP-8 has been compared to the size of a small household refrigerator.

Minicomputers did not contain microprocessors. In the 1980s, the minicomputer’s prevalence declined as microprocessors became more powerful and available at lower cost.

An antiquated term, minicomputers are often referred to as midrange computers.

Microcomputers vs. Mainframes

A mainframe computer is a high-performance computer used for large-scale computing purposes that require greater availability and security than small-scale machines can provide. Mainframes can process requests from a number of users simultaneously, whereas a microcomputer is designed to be used by one person at a time. As such, a mainframe computer can be described as a system that interconnects a number of microcomputers.

Tips for Choosing a Microcomputer

When choosing a microcomputer, also known as a microcontroller or single-board computer, there are several factors to consider. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

Purpose and Application: Determine the specific purpose and application for which you need the microcomputer. Are you building a robotics project, IoT device, or home automation system? Understanding your requirements will help you choose a microcomputer with the right features and capabilities.
Processing Power: Consider the processing power required for your application. Look at the specifications such as the processor type, clock speed, and number of cores. Ensure that the microcomputer has sufficient processing capabilities to handle the tasks you intend to run.
Memory and Storage: Check the available RAM and storage options. Sufficient memory is crucial for running applications smoothly, and adequate storage space is necessary for storing data and applications. Some microcomputers support expandable storage via SD cards or USB drives.
Input/Output (I/O) Ports: Assess the I/O ports and interfaces available on the microcomputer. Consider the types and number of ports required to connect sensors, actuators, displays, and other peripherals relevant to your project. Common ports include USB, GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, HDMI, and Ethernet.
Connectivity: Determine the connectivity options needed for your project. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet are common connectivity features. Ensure that the microcomputer has the necessary wireless or wired connectivity options to integrate with other devices or connect to the internet.
Operating System and Software Support: Check the supported operating systems and software development environments. Depending on your project requirements, you may prefer a microcomputer that supports popular operating systems like Linux or has robust software libraries and community support.
Power Consumption: Consider the power consumption of the microcomputer. If your project demands low power requirements or is battery-powered, choose a micro computer that offers energy-efficient operation.
Community and Documentation: Look for a microcomputer that has an active community of users and developers. This ensures access to forums, tutorials, documentation, and support when you encounter challenges during your project.
Price: Set a budget for your micro computer and compare prices across different options. Keep in mind that cost can vary based on features, performance, and brand reputation. Consider the value and long-term benefits the microcomputer provides for your specific application.
Expandability and Flexibility: Assess the expandability and flexibility of the micro computer. Consider whether it has expansion slots, GPIO pins, or shields/hats available for adding additional functionality. This allows you to scale and customize your project as needed.
Determine your needs: Prior to selecting a micro computer, consider its intended purpose. For instance, if you want a device for making digital art, you may use a tablet and stylus to do this versus a laptop computer.
Do your research: Once you’ve determined what your computer needs are, you can conduct research on the best brands and types. This way, you purchase the most efficient, beneficial one for your work.
Consider several types: If you determine you could benefit from different aspects of different microcomputers, you may use several types of micro computers to meet your needs.

By considering these tips, you can select a micro computer that aligns with your project requirements, performance needs, connectivity options, and budget, ultimately leading to a successful and efficient implementation.

Computer – KnowledgeSthali