Supermini

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This article is about the class of computer. There is also a European car size class called supermini; see supermini car.

A supermini (from superminicomputer) is, by definition, "a minicomputer with high performance compared to ordinary minicomputers". The term was an invention used from the mid-1970s mainly to distinguish the emerging 32-bit minis from the classical 16-bit minicomputers.

Reportedly coined by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) at their VAX announcement in 1976, the term is now largely obsolete—like minicomputers as such—but still remains of interest for students/researchers of computer history.

Note that superminicomputers should not be confused with the similarly named minisupercomputers, which is a class of supercomputer.

Significant superminis

Norsk Data Nord-5, first supermini, 1972
Norsk Data Nord-50, 1975
DEC VAX, 1978
Data General Eclipse MV/8000, 1980
Norsk Data ND-500, 1981
Norsk Data ND-570/CX, fastest supermini, 1983, at 7.1 Whetstone MIPS
Elxsi 6400, 1983

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