Actually, to answer my own question: if "main frame" refers to the actual framing... well the PDP-1, PDP-10, PDP-10 were minicomputers and still required a lot of metal "framing" to set up. So, can't they be considered mainframes?
(another notion is that mainframes are "multi-user" -- most early microcomputers were not multi-user, as they just barely supported the needs of one user; I'm not sure if the very first minicomputers were multi-user?) The term minicomputer has always been awkward to me -- "mini" in my head just means something smaller than me, which most minicomputers aren't (but they are much smaller than a building). But to say "mainframe" when showing a minicomputer then necessitates some explanation... Can't win :( -Steve On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 3:51 PM Steve Lewis <lewiss...@gmail.com> wrote: > Not to open a huge can of worms.... but... > > I always considered a mainframe to basically be a "fully decked out" > minicomputer. > > A minicomputer has a core CPU and memory (or racks of memory), then is > "decked out" with data storage (racks of wall-sized tape decks), printers, > pick-your-typewriter input (or two, or three), and maybe cabinets for > serial IO or modem of some sort. > > So, sometimes I say mainframe when I really mean minicomputer (generally > because mainframe just sounds cooler than "mini-computer" -- that is, > mainframe clearly conveys the notion of "some big ass computer" whereas > minicomputer just needs more clarification). > > > What do you guys think? Or is a mainframe one of those giants so large, > you walk inside its CPU? > > Or, is it like this... > > computer (a whole building, generally at least two story to support > ac ducting and raised floor maintenance -- are these exclusively > mainframes?) > > minicomputer (a single floor or room of a building or possibly a full > top of a desk - and, these are NOT mainframes?) > > microcomputer (half a deck top or smaller, memory and accessories mostly > self contained - doesn't necessarily have to have a microprocessor, but > typically does) > > nanocomputer (modern MCU ? like Raspbery Pi) > > > Also - on "personal computer", it's generally implied "digital electronic > computers" so we don't have to dwell too much on rocks and beads as > computers. Glad we didn't call them "coordinated electron pumpers" :) > > > > -Steve > >
