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
>
>

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