answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

First Generation Computers refer to ones with vacuum tubes and were really huge and required vast amounts of electricity. The programming was very limited and very complex USN machine language. Usually they were hardwired and the applications very limited.

Second Generation Computer were built using transistors that were much smaller and required less power and space. General Purpose program languages were developed that could be moved from 1 computer to the next.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Transistor were used in second generation computers. They produced low heat, reliable than vaccum tubes. In third generation computers Integrated circuits were used and keyboard were introduced.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

In most systems of classifying computers into generations, first generation computers used vacuum tubes while second generation computers used discrete transistors. Some differences:

  • first - big, second - not so big
  • first - generated lots of heat, second - generated less heat
  • first - high voltages, second - low voltages
  • first - tube heaters burn out, second - transistors don't have heaters
  • first - needed on site manufacturer engineering support, second - needed on call manufacturer engineering support
This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
  • second generation computers used individual discrete transistors, mostly germanium.
  • third generation computers used integrated circuits, some hybrid integrated circuits on ceramic, most silicon monolithic integrated circuits.
This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

The first generation of computers back in 1940 were vacuum tubes. There were vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory. There huge in size, consumed lot of electricity and generated lot of heat. There were expensive to operate and heat was the main cause of failure.

The current generation or the fifth generation of PCs are based on microprocessors and thousands of integrated circuits drawn on a single silicon chip. They are affordable, extremely energy efficient and are small in sizes as small as it could fit in the palm of the hand.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

transistors vs. integrated circuits

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is the difference between 1st and 2nd generation of computer?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

What are the storage capacity of 1st to 5th generation computers?

it varied significantly from computer to computer within each generation with large overlaps from generation to generation but the running trend has been for greater storage capacity in each successive generation.


History of computer Before 1st generation of computers?

Electro-Mechanical Computers were used before first generation of computers.


What are the 4 basic periods of computer generations?

First Generation- 1945-1956-Atansoff berry Computer. Second Generation-1956-1963-Transistors. Third Generation-1964-1971-Integrated circuits. Fourth Generation-1971-Present-Apple Macintosh.


What are th compare all generations of computer?

No difference really, they still take 1's and 0's and make mathematical calculations corresponding to their instruction sets (CPU). What is DONE with that has changed dramatically tho, with every new generation, and that's about the only real difference...well besides the darn size thing. Any more of an answer would be doing your test for you, and take far more room than this page offers. 1st generation computers used vacuum tubes. This generation spanned roughly 1940s to 1958. Today's generation uses very complicated integrated circuits. It started no earlier than the 1990s. A typical single IC from a modern computer contains several orders of magnitude more components than an entire 1st generation computer occupying an entire room, and runs at speeds unimaginable in the 1st generation.


1st generation of computer?

First generation computers were built with vacuum tubes. The capabilities were about the same as that of modern computers, except limited by very small memories and slow speed. Typical first generation computer memory cost from $2 to $20 per byte equivalent, whereas today's computer memory costs less than a micro-penny per byte.

Related questions

What is the difference from the iPod third generation and the first generation iPod?

The difference between the 1st and 3rd generation iPod is slightly different. the cases will still work, the difference between the two generations is that the 3rd generation is slightly slimmer than the 1st generation.


What is the difference between an iTouch 8g 1st generation and an iTouch 8g second generation?

Well, the 2nd generation version is thinner, and that's about it!


5 difference of 4th generation of computer and 5th generation of computer?

This is hard to answer, because there is no industry standard for what a 'generation' is. It is entirely subjective. You will need to define a 'generation' before a comparison is given. IE, there are 3 generations of AMD Phenom II processor, and over 70 generations of AMD processors. There are five major generations in processor bitrate. There are over 400 generations of individual progressments in major computer technology. There are nearly 50 different generations of individual architecture design.


Is there a difference between a 1st generation iPod Touch and a 3rd generation iPod Touch?

A lot slowerBack is differentDoes not support some appsNot as sexy


Exact date of the first generation computer?

The exact date of 1st generation Computer is May,1941.


What is the difference between the iPod Touch 1st and second generation?

well the 2nd generation has built in speakers, youtube, access to email, and a bunch of other crap.


What is the difference between the first generation ipod touch and the third generation ipod touch?

There are certain games that you cant get on the ipod 1st generation also you you cant update ipod 1st gen with the new softwares but with the 3rd gen you can carry on updating it.


What is the difference between and iPod Touch first and second generation?

Well, mainly its just an updated version and 1st generation doesn't have built-in speakers like the 2nd does.


Ipod touch 1st and 2nd generation difference?

the second generation is thinner and has better software


Difference between first generation itouch and second generation itouch?

The 1st generation has a box shaped outershell while the 2nd generation has a more comfortable curved grip. The biggest difference is that the 2nd generation has external speakers that can be adjusted with the external volume control. The first generation does not. There are also minor changes like better graphics and a wider variety of apps.


What are the storage capacity of 1st to 5th generation computers?

it varied significantly from computer to computer within each generation with large overlaps from generation to generation but the running trend has been for greater storage capacity in each successive generation.


Why 1St generation computer not suitable for high calculation?

but they were. for the time they were built they were and did.