миникомпьютер, мини-ЭВМ компьютер промежуточного класса между мэйнфреймами и рабочими станциями. Были популярны в 1970 - 1985 годах. Первоначально к ним по определению относили ЭВМ стоимостью ниже 50 000 долларов, затем по классификации корпорации Digital в этот класс стали попадать машины в ценовом диапазоне от 20 000 до 200 000 долл. Миникомпьютеры с объёмом ОЗУ от 250К до 500К слов именовались мидикомпьютерами (midicomputer), а с ОЗУ свыше 500К слов - максикомпьютерами (maxicomputer). В связи с появлением понятия "сервер" термин миникомпьютер используется всё реже Смотри также: computer, mainframe, PDP, VAX, workstation
мини-ЭВМ
noun a small computer that is intermediate between a microcomputer and a mainframe in size, speed, and capacity, that can support time-sharing, and that is often dedicated to a single application
A computer built between about 1963 and 1987, smaller and less powerful than a mainframe, typically about the size and shape of a wardrobe, mounted in a single tall rack. Minicomputers were characterised by short word lengths of 8 to 32 bits, limited hardware and software facilities and small physical size. Their low cost made them suitable for a wide variety of applications such as industrial control, where a small, dedicated computer which is permanently assigned to one application, is needed. In recent years, improvements in device technology have resulted in minicomputers which are comparable in performance to large second generation computers and greatly exceed the performance of first generation computers. The processor was typically built using low integration logic integrated circuits - TTL or maybe ECL, thus distinguishing it from a microcomputer which is built around a microprocessor - a processor on a single (or maybe a few) ICs. DEC's PDP-1 was the first minicomputer and their PDP-11 was the most successful, closely followed (in both time and success) by the VAX (which DEC called a "super minicomputer"). Another early minicomputer was the LINC developed at MIT in 1963. Other minicomputers were the AS/400, the PRIME series, the AP-3, Olivetti's Audit 7 and the Interdata 8/32.