1980s workstation class by 1990.

• Computer classes die or
are overtaken by lower-
priced, more rapidly
evolving general-pur-
pose computers as the
less-expensive alterna-
tives operating alone,
combined into multiple
shared memory micro-
processors, and multi-
ple computer clusters.
Lower-priced platforms
result in more use and
substantially higher vol-
ume manufacture
thereby decreasing cost
while simultaneously
increasing performance ^100,000
more rapidly than
higher-priced classes. _10,000
Computers can be
combined to form a sin-
gle, shared-memory com- ^1,000
puter. A “multi” or
multiple CMOS micro- ¹⁰⁰
processor, shared-memory
computer [ 2] displaced ₁₀
bipolar minicomputers
circa 1990 and main-
1
frames circa 1995, and
formed the basic compo-
nent for supercomputers.

Price in 1000s of $s

Scalable, multiple computers can be networked into arbitrarily large computers to form clusters that replace custom ECL and CMOS vector supercomputers beginning in the mid-

1990s simply because arbitrarily large computers can be created. Clusters of multiprocessors were called constellations; clusters using low latency and proprietary networks are MPPs (massively parallel processors).

Generality always wins. A computer created for a particular, specialized function, such as word processing or interpreting a language, and used for a particular application is almost certain to be taken over by a faster-evolving, general-purpose computer. The computer’s universality property allows

1.E+09

1.E+01 1.E+00

1.E+08

1.E+07

1.E+06

1.E+05

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1.E+03

1.E+02

Consumer and Home Platforms Wallet Caculator Pocket Caculator Handheld game (1989) Home GameConsoles (1994) Home PC (1977) Personal Platforms Prog. Desk/Pocket Calc, (19xx)

PC (1981) Professional WS Shared, Dept. Systems Microcomputer (1982) Minicomputer (1960) SuperMinicomputer

Mini-mainframe Centralized, Systems

Mainframe Minisupercomputer

Supercomputer Scalable Computing

Multis (1985)

Scalables

PDA (1995) Portable, Laptop

Figure 2a. Computer classes and their price range circa 2005.

any computer to take on the function of another, given sufficient memory and interfaces.

SFF devices subsume personal computing functionality as they take on the communications functions of the PC (email and Web browsing), given sufficient memory and interfaces. SFF devices, TVs, or kiosks accessing supercomputers with large stores, subsume personal computing functionality. The large central stores retain personal information, photos, music, and video.

OVERVIEW OF THE BIRTH ^0.1 AND DEATH OF THE COMPUTER CLASSES

0.01 1951–2010

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 The named classes and Year of introduction of the first, earliest or dominant computer forming a class their price range circa 2010 are given in Figure 2a. In 1986, David Nelson, the founder of Apollo computer, and I posited that the price of a computer was approximately $200 per pound [ 7]. Figure 2b gives the introduction price and date of the first or defining computer of a class.

Here, I will use the aspects of Bell’s Law described previously and follow a timeline of the class formations beginning with the establishment of the first computer classes (mainframe, supercomputer, shared personal professional computers or workstations, and minicomputers) using vacuum tubes, transistors, and bipolar integrated circuits that continue through the mid-1990s in the first period (1951–1990). In the second period beginning in 1971, the MOS microprocessor ultimately overtook bipolar by 1990 to

The specific characteristics of the classes account for the birth, growth, diminution, and demise of various parts of the computer and communications industry.

Figure 2b. Introduction price versus date of the first or early platforms to establish a computer class or lower-priced sub-class originating from the same company or industry.