MICROPROCESSOR AND MICROCONTROLLER

Detailed explanation-1: -At the launch of the MITS Altair 8800 in 1975, Radio Electronics magazine referred to the system as a “minicomputer", although the term microcomputer soon became usual for personal computers based on single-chip microprocessors.

Detailed explanation-2: -By 1968 they formed a new class of computers, representing the smallest general purpose computers. While mainframes cost up to $1, 000, 000, minicomputers cost well under $100, 000. The computer that defined the minicomputer, the PDP-8, cost only $18, 000.

Detailed explanation-3: -In August 1965, DEC announced the PDP-8, which used a 12-bit word length and cost $18, 000. This small, inexpensive computer was suitable for a wide range of system applications and became the first minicomputer.

Detailed explanation-4: -Seymour Cray is best known for building supercomputers, but he also designed the CDC 160, one of the first minicomputers.

Detailed explanation-5: -A minicomputer is a type of computer that possesses most of the features and capabilities of a large computer but is smaller in physical size. A minicomputer fills the space between the mainframe and microcomputer, and is smaller than the former but larger than the latter.