Mini-computers don't look that different to the sort of computer you may be using to look at this page. They are however much more powerful. They are more expensive than your desktop but much less expensive than a mainframe. Mini-computers are used by small to medium sized companies.

Examples of the types of company using minicomputers would include:

• Universities
• Hospitals
• County councils

A mini computer will cost around £100,000 A minicomputer does not require a special working environment. A minicomputer will often have a handful of terminals, whereas a mainframe with typically have hundreds. Mini-computers

One way of looking at the difference between mainframe and a mini is that the mainframe is very likely to have been built by IBM where as the mini will probably be built by someone like Dell.

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