An instructor while I was in college had the following definitions.

If you have to move it and:

you can load it along with all of its peripherals into your
kid's little red wagon, it is a PC/Workstation.

you need a pickup truck to move it along with all of its
peripherals, it is a mini-computer.

you have to rent a U-Haul/Ryder/whatever to move it along with
all of its peripherals, it is a main-frame.

I know there are exceptions and this was 10 years ago that he
said this but I still think it is a simple and straight forward
definition.

Barry


On 18 Oct 01, at 9:59, Arthur Frank wrote:

> Hello,
>
> A few weeks ago, after mentioning to my trusty new assistant that our HP 3000 is a "minicomputer" rather than a "PC server" or a "mainframe," he asked, "What's the difference?"  I gave him some vague generalities regarding size and scalability -- really some baloney to obfuscate my lack of
knowledge.
>
> What REALLY makes a minicomputer a minicomputer?  In what ways is a mini preferable to the alternatives?  Are Un*x boxes considered minis?
>
> Humbly awaiting enlightenment from this esteemed group,
>
> Art Frank
> Manager of Information Systems
> OHSU Foundation
> [log in to unmask]
> (503) 220-8320
>
> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
> * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *
>


------------------------------------------
Barry Durand           [log in to unmask]
Allegro Consultants    408.252.2330
http://www.allegro.com/people/durand/index.html
Opinions are mine, not my employer's
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* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
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