The Technologies That Support Information Systems

Objective one: To identify the computer systems and peripherals recommend for a business of your choice.
Trends in Computer Systems. Today's computer systems come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and computing capabilities. Rapid hardware and software developments and changing end user needs continue to drive the emergence of new models of computers, from the smallest hand-held personal digital assistant for end users, to the largest multiple CPU mainframe for the enterprise. Categories such as mainframes, midrange computers, and micromputers are still used to help up express the relative processing power and number of end users that can be supported by different types of computers.
Computer Generations. It is important to realize that major changes and trends in computer systems have occurred during the major stages of computing, and will continue into the future. The first generation of computers developed in the early 1950s, the second generation blossomed during the late 1960s, the third generation took computing into the 1970s, and fourth generation has been the computer technology of 1980s and 1990s. A fifth generation of computers that accelerates the trends of the previous generations is expected to evolve as we enter the 21 century.
Micro-computer Systems. are the most important category of computer systems for end user. Though usually called a personal computer, or PC, a microcomputer is much more than a small computer for use by an individual. The computing power of microcomputers now exceeds that of the mainframes of their cost. Thus, they have become powerful-networked professional workstations for endusers in business.
Some microcomputers are powerful workstation computers that support applications with heavy mathematical computing and graphics display demand such as computer-aided-design (CAD) in engineering. Other microcomputers are used as network servers. They are usually more powerful microcomputers that coordinate telecommunications and resources sharing in small local area network, and Internet and intranet.
Midrange Computer Systems. Including minicomputers and high-end network servers, are multi-user systems that can manage networks of PCs and terminals. Though not as powerful as mainframe computers, they are less costly to buy, operate, and maintain that mainframe systems, and thus meet the computing needs of many organizations.
Midrange computers first became popular as microcomputers for scientific research, instrumentation systems, engineering analysis, and industrial process monitoring and control. Midrange computers are also used as front-end computers to assist mainframe computers in telecommunications processing and network management.