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Assuming that computers a subset of the higher class of "computing devices" then the first question is what belongs in the computing devices higher class that doesn't belong in the computers subclass. It's difficult to say because everything that belongs in the computing devices class could be classified as a "computer" as well, because it computes by definition of being a computing device. Typically when we refer to computers, we specifically mean main frame computers, mini-computers, or personal computers. We don't typically mean cell phones, calculators, or personal data assistants (PDA's) though all of these undoubtedly compute. What distinguishes computers from these devices, in general, is their ability to be programmed to do custom tasks that they were not originally developed to do. Most of the other computing devices can not be programmed in and of themselves to do other tasks they were not originally designed to do, however there are exceptions. Cell phones can run custom applications (though you cannot typically write the applications on the cell phone itself. The same goes for PDAs and calculators. Some of the more complex calculators are not unlike some of the first personal computers in their ability to be programmed, but their programming power is rather limited. In short, computers can be programmed, but so can many of the other computing devices, but still it does distinguish them from many of the other computing devices because ALL computers can be programmed, whereas only a subset of the other computing devices can be programmed.

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