Minicomputer vs. Microcomputer

Minicomputernoun

(computer hardware) A computer smaller than a mainframe, but larger than a microcomputer.

Minicomputernoun

a mid-sized digital computer; at any given point in the development of computer technology, a minicomputer will be faster and have greater capacity than a microcomputer, but will be slower and have less capacity than a mainframe computer.

Minicomputernoun

a digital computer of medium size

Minicomputer

A minicomputer, or colloquially mini, is a class of smaller general purpose computers that developed in the mid-1960s and sold for much less than mainframe and mid-size computers from IBM and its direct competitors. In a 1970 survey, The New York Times suggested a consensus definition of a minicomputer as a machine costing less than US$25,000 (equivalent to $167,000 in 2020), with an input-output device such as a teleprinter and at least four thousand words of memory, that is capable of running programs in a higher level language, such as Fortran or BASIC.The class formed a distinct group with its own software architectures and operating systems.

Microcomputernoun

(computer hardware) A computer designed around a microprocessor, smaller than a minicomputer or a mainframe.

Microcomputernoun

A small computer based on a microprocessor; in practise, at any given time in the technology of computer development, a microcomputer will be one that is less powerful than a minicomputer.

Microcomputernoun

a small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time

Microcomputer

A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit (CPU). It includes a microprocessor, memory and minimal input/output (I/O) circuitry mounted on a single printed circuit board (PCB).