The Concept

While personal computers were becoming more powerful through the use of advanced processors and more sophisticated software, users of mainframes and minicomputers began to break with the tradition of having a centralized information systems division. PCs were easy to use and provided a better and more effective way of maintaining
data on a departmental level. In the mainframe and mini environment, the data required by individual departments was often controlled by the management information system department or some such similar department. Each user was connected to the main system through a dumb terminal that was unable to perform any of its own processing tasks. In the mainframe and minicomputer environment, processing and memory are centralized.