【MICROCOMPUTERS】What are they and what are they used for? ▷ 2022

Have you ever used microcomputers? You know that they are? How are they different from our desktop personal computers?

To this machine, born in the 70s, in the middle of the computer revolution, we owe it a lot, because it is the basis of what we all have in our home today.

We are going to see in detail what a microcomputer is, where it came from, what its history has been up to the present day and how it is similar to and different from other computers.

What are Microcomputers in computing? Definition

Considering the definition that the concept itself can give us, A microcomputer is a computer that uses a microprocessor. to serve as the Central Processing Unit -what amounts to being the processor of a lifetime, well, of our young life-.

Regardless of knowing what this element is, one only has to pay attention, again, to the concept itself to know that the prefix micro- refers to something small. Although we currently use it to refer to tiny elements, the truth is that when the term “microprocessor” was coined, conventional processors were much larger than the ones we use now, so a micro one might as well be as big as the palm of your hand.

In any case, the microcomputer is computer equipment that was designed to work with a microprocessor.

This leads us, as is logical, to see a reduction in the rest of the elements that make up the machine and, with it, its overall size. This is also thanks to the integrated circuit, an element that had been waiting for years to be used.

A) Yes, we can call our personal computer microcomputer or desktop, although it sounds strange, because, after all, it is of a small size in relation to existing computing devices when the term was introduced and, in effect, I work with what is known as a microprocessor. However, microcomputers are not synonymous only with personal computers.

The concept itself indicates very clearly that the importance lies in the use, as we say, of a microprocessor, so that those computational machines that include it are also considered as micro. Otherwise, the device may be different in terms of structure, integration of elements and others, what matters, as we say, is that it is made to work with a micro CPU.

Source

These teams appear when microprocessors are developed to the point of being compatible with smaller parts. This occurs, as we have mentioned, when researching to satisfy the growing demand for smaller computers that could be used in contexts different from those of the moment and that, in addition, were also less expensive, becoming accessible to a greater portion of the population.

This machine replaced in many respects becausein the absence of other equipment, these were used for various purposes, even if they were not the most appropriate or even if the mini was too much for it, because, simply, there was no other more related product.

The first microcomputer is seen in the year 1972, from Japan. This was the SMP80/08. Two years later we find its improved version. None of them went on sale.

Meanwhile, in France it had been launched, in 1973, the Micral Nbeing these the first to make the patent including the term microcomputer, but in French (“micro-ordinateur”), referring to it as “first solid-state machine with a microprocessor”. This was designed to be part of scientific applications and technical processes.

Alvan was another French team designed to automate some office work processesgetting much closer to current personal computers.

History

The story is not far from that of other computing machines and corresponds to the development, directly or indirectly, of the equipment we have just discussed. Until 1976which is known as first generation of microcomputers sold for engineering interface control purposes, in terminal control and industrial machinery. The leading corporations are Texas Instruments, Digital Equipment Corporation or the current Toshiba, known at the time as Sord Computer Corporation.

the second generation is given by the introduction of the home computer in the year 1977These machines are still smaller and its development is intended to be more easily usable by the user on foot. For this, use is made of basic language and the ability to connect to these monitors or televisions.

An important milestone that made these machines a tool for business was the creation of the spreadsheet in 1979. When IBM launches the IBM PC, the concept of a personal computer begins to merge with that of a microcomputer. Very noteworthy is also the introduction of 32 bit computing in these teams, given in the mid-80s.

Its importance lies in the fact that it allowed multi-user operating systems to rungetting a little closer to the concept of a minicomputer, which, let’s remember, is more powerful. In 2012 the Raspberry Pi was launched.an element that, despite being considered a “computer board” because it is, in essence, a computer-capable boardWithout anything else, it is still a microcomputer, since the truth is that it includes a microprocessor.

What are Microcomputers for and what are their uses?

The reduction of its processing capacity -at the time- meant that these machines are intended for domestic and office use as well as, in some cases, for the teaching-learning process. An essential characteristic was that, due to both their capacity and their size, they were used by a single user.

In other words, they functioned as the satisfaction of the demand of the domestic user who could not access, in any way -nor did it make sense to do so- to minicomputers, mainframes or other even larger computers.

This means that its use was given both to entertain with catalogs of multimedia products or with games how to manage the homefor example, keeping accounts, storing information, etc.

Nevertheless, its evolution has meant that currently, although its basic uses are the same (entertainment, teaching and home management) the options have diversified enormously, being able to enjoy activities that number in the hundreds. This is because each time more applications are available but also because the processing capacity and speed of the processors is infinitely greater.

Thus, we can say that the same uses for which these computers were designed remain, but that they have been expanded.

What are the differences between a Microcomputer and a Minicomputer?

As we have seen in the previous points, the differences in capacity between the two types of computers narrowed over time until they are already diffuse or non-existent, since the truth is that both terms are practically in disuse because a personal computer can carry out the functions of both equipment.

However, we have to the mini (or medium server) is larger, with very fast processing andwhich especially differentiates them, that allows the connection of multiple users with various teams. That is, it would be a kind of server.

the microon the other hand, when nobody as a concept, it was single-user, as well as smaller. Of course, currently, if it has the corresponding specifications, it can also work as a server.

This is, at the time, the minicomputer served as a restrained server and the micro was a kind of predecessor of the personal computer.

Currently, although their specifications are not quite the same, we have a kind of growing list in which the microcomputer would be more modest in all aspects, followed by the minicomputer, the workstation, the mainframe and, later, we would go to giant equipment such as macro and supercomputers. So, we have to one is one step higher than the other, just.