What is the difference between 1st and 2nd generation of computer?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

• 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.

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

transistors vs. integrated circuits