The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Generation of Computers: September 2014

First Generation Computers

ADVANTAGES

• Vacuum tubes were the only electronic components available those days.

• • Vacuum tube technology made possible the advent of electronic digital computers.

• These computers can perform computations in milliseconds

DISADVANTAGES

• • Unreliable

• Air conditioning required

• Not portable

Second Generation Computers

ADVANTAGES

• More Reliable

• • Better portability

• • These computers were able to reduce computational times from milliseconds to microseconds

DISADVANTAGES

• Air-conditioning required

• • Frequent maintenance required

• • Manual assembly of individual components into functioning unit was required.

Third Generation Computers

ADVANTAGES

· Commercial production was easier and cheaper

· Easily portable

· Less power requirement than previous generation computers.

DISADVANTAGES

· Air-conditioning required in many cases

· Highly sophisticated technology required for the manufacture of IC chips.

Fourth Generation Computers

ADVANTAGES

· Very reliable

· Heat generated is negligible

· Totally general purpose.

DISADVANTAGES

· Highly sophisticated technology required for manufacture of LSI chips

Fifth Generation Computers

ADVANTAGES

· They are portable

· They are very reliable compared to other generations

· They portable and are available in different sizes with different features

DISADVANTAGES

· They can replace man in jobs that are hard

· They can defeat man in games

· They are expensive

The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Generation of Computers