It feels like just about every other week there is some new terminology or new thing you need to understand when it comes to computers.

Not only does this device do this and that, a lot of the time I think to myself doesn’t this old laptop do the exact same thing as the new, except with a much lesser technical name.

I want to clear the air a little and define for a lot of our readers the 5 main types of computers you might here when talking about computers and what the basically mean.

Desktop

Desktop computers are just that. They are not made to be moved around with every day, are usually bigger and more powerful the laptop computers.

The main reason to have a desktop computer is because you prefer the larger screens, like to play games and prefer the bigger keyboards and mouse.

Also when designing, a bigger screen with more powerful processor is more beneficial.

Laptop/Notebook

Not a whole lot more different the desktop computer. And although they are getting more powerful, it comes at a price because of the size.

Laptops and Notebooks are much more smaller and have the all in one factor, such as screen, keyboard and mouse.

Laptops are great for people on the move who need to take their files with them for personal use or work and quickly pack up, put it in their bag and relocate.

Server

A server is a computer which is designed to provide services to other computers or network users.

They can provide services over the internet or LAN (local Area Network) or wireless. Just reading this website now you are using one of our servers which provide web services.

Other server can provide anything from data which other programs use, file, media and information services.

Servers usually use customised software depending on what the a serving; but the majority either use Windows Server or Linux Server products.

Workstation

Although personal computers are very powerful now, all a workstation is, are computers which are optimised with more power, memory and storage space.

Most workstations have exactly the same operating systems you are probably using at home but maybe some more specialised or customised software for the work they are doing.

Supercomputer

Supercomputers are the most expensive, specialised computers and systems to date.

Sometimes they compromise of multiple computers working together, thats why I said system to accomplish an objective. Super computers cost millions of dollars and are designed to crunch in depth number systems.

Also a lot of movie animation and design systems use super computer to make CGI and render images which would take years otherwise.

Wearable Computer

Wearable computers a small computers which do very basic tasks like email, and web browsing.

You have probably been using a wearable computer for years and don’t even know it, in the form of your mobile cell phone.

More recently we are seeing them in smart watches which connect to your mobile phone, so you can answer your phone and use additional features such a web and fitness applications.