Advertisement
Published in:
2016 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
9. Minicomputers and Later Mainframes
Author : Gerard O’Regan
Published in: Introduction to the History of Computing
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.
Select sections of text to find matching patents with Artificial Intelligence. powered by
Select sections of text to find additional relevant content using AI-assisted search. powered by
Abstract
The minicomputer was a new class of low-cost computers that arose during the 1960s, and its development was facilitated by the introduction of integrated circuits and their improved performance and declining cost. Minicomputers were distinguished from the large mainframe computers by price and size, and they formed a class of the smallest general-purpose computers. We discuss minicomputers such as DEC’s PDP-1, PDP-11 and VAX-11/780 minicomputers, which were popular with the engineering and scientific communities. DEC became the second largest computer company in the world in the late 1980s, but it was too slow in reacting to the rise of the microprocessor and the revolution in home computers. Later mainframes are discussed including the Amdahl 470V/6 and the intense competition between IBM and Amdahl in the high-end mainframe market.