List of computer size categories

This illustration shows the development of computers, from huge room-sized computers in the 1940s and 1950s (left-most photo) to smaller personal computers over the 1980s to the 2010s.

This list of computer size categories attempts to list commonly used categories of computer by the physical size of the device and its chassis or case, in descending order of size. One generation's "supercomputer" is the next generation's "mainframe", and a "PDA" does not have the same set of functions as a "laptop", but the list still has value, as it provides a ranked categorization of devices. It also ranks some more obscure computer sizes.

Supercomputers

Minisupercomputer

Mainframe

Mainframe computers are large and expensive but powerful, so they can handle hundreds and thousands of connected users at the same time.

Minicomputers

Superminicomputer
Minicluster (SFF / ITX)^[1]
Server
Workstation

Microcomputers

Tower PC
Mid-Tower PC
Mini-Tower PC
Personal computer (PC)
- Desktop computer—see computer form factor for some standardized sizes of desktop computers
- Home computer

Mobile computers

Desktop replacement computer or desknote
Laptop computer
- Notebook computer
  - Subnotebook computer, also known as a Kneetop computer; clamshell varieties may also be known as minilaptop or ultraportable laptop computers
Tablet personal computer
Slabtop computers including "word-processing keyboards" and the TRS-80 Model 100
Handheld computers, which include the classes:
- - Ultra-mobile personal computer, or UMPC
  - Personal digital assistant or enterprise digital assistant, which include:
    - HandheldPC or Palmtop computer
    - Pocket personal computer
  - Electronic organizer
  - Pocket computer
  - Calculator, which includes the class:
    - Graphing calculator
    - Scientific calculator
    - Programmable calculator
    - Accounting / Financial Calculator
  - Handheld game console
  - Portable media player
  - Portable data terminal
  - Information appliance
    - Smartphone, a class of mobile phone
    - Feature phone
Wearable computer
Single board computer
Wireless sensor network components
Plug computer
Microcontroller
Smartdust
Nanocomputer

Others

Deskside computer - often strd. rack width but less than half of the typical rack height, esp. for mid-range servers (e.g. RS/6000 7025-F80), visualisation (e.g. Onyx Deskside) or vector processing (e.g. SX-6i).
Cart computer
Microsoft Sphere
Rackmount/Framemount computer
- Multimedia server
- Blade server
- Blade PC
Small form factor personal computer (SFF, ITX, DTX.etc.)

Distinctive marks

The classes above are not rigid; there are "edge devices" in most of them. For instance, the "subnotebook" category can usually be distinguished from the "PDA" category because a subnotebook has a keyboard and a PDA has not; however, tablet PCs may be larger than subnotebooks (making it seemingly correct to classify them as laptops) and also lack a keyboard, while devices such as the Handspring Treo 600 have something that might charitably be called a keyboard, but are still definitely in the "smartphone" category.

In the higher end of the spectrum, this informal and somewhat humorous rule might help:

You can throw a laptop if you wanted to
You can lift a workstation if you need to
You can tilt a minicomputer if you need to
You cannot move a mainframe, even if you tried

References

↑ "minicluster". Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. )

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[1] "minicluster". Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. )