How did the transistor change computers?

Answer 1

Very little for over a decade because it took that long to learn how to make high speed transistors needed for computer use, that were reliable, and at the same time had high gain. And then it took several more years to learn how to make silicon planar transistors which were not destroyed by humidity and could then be packaged in inexpensive plastic packages and at the same time made monolithic integrated circuits possible.

Answer 2

their small size, low heat generation, high reliability, and small power requirements made possible the miniaturization of complex circuitry such as required by computers.

How the transistor changed computers was revolutionary and great. The beginnings of transistors dates back all the way into the 40's when some of the first computers we're being built, but with vacuum tubes.

Noticing the size of these vacuum tubes, you'll find them to be much bigger than the transistors of today. this being one of the biggest importances of the transistor, is its size. Today, transistors can be so small, that it takes an electron microscope to see it. A computer made of vacuum tubes (such as the ENIAC from the 1940's) was roughly the size of a room, and took as much power as 15 houses. But a computer of transistors, today can be and some are, the size of the palm of your hand.

The second importance of the transistor? Is how much power it takes. Since the invention of the transistor, computers have gone from taking the power of many homes, to being able to power itself with a battery for hours. Without the transistor, the world wouldn't be anywhere near to what it is today.

Answer 3

It made them much smaller, faster, and cooler. And the word much is a huge understatement. Back in the day, a 100 square foot room would house one computer that isn't as smart as your pocket calculator, probably not even as smart as your digital watch. things have changed drastically since then.

Answer 4

transistors are the main components of our computers CPU's, this technology has gotten so small ,that the number of transistors that can be fit into a single die has allowed technology to grow into the behemoth computers we use today compared to what we had for example in the 80's. Transistors have gotten so small that each one can be measured in nanometers. Nano technology is getting to the point where we can no longer make this technology physically any smaller and have begun to dabble with what is known as Quantum computing.

Answer 5

Make them possible.

Even the smallest hand held calculator, if it were built with tubes, would be the size of a VW Beetle, and would consume a couple of killowatts of power.