They were large because the technology to make tiny switches and circuits didn't exist. The ENIAC came out in 1946, the first commercially-available transistor of any type in 1948, and the first commercially-available microprocessors in 1971.
They were expensive because earlier ones used vacuum tubes, which burned out often, they required lots of electricity, and they required more than one person to operate. Plus, since few people wanted them, they couldn't be mass-produced.
Because the technology available at that time was not like now. Today we have microchips, which are tiny and can store and do so much more than the technology. Older computers used different and larger forms of technology and bigger components and larger amounts of them. So they were much bigger than today's computers, although they were far less powerful. Technology generally gets smaller and more powerful, as you can see in other cases like large TVs compared to flat screens, or large radios compared to things like iPods, or the first large mobile phones compared to smaller ones we now have.
The 1st generation computers were extremely large because it used vacuum tubes as the basic components for circuitry and CPU as well as magnetic drums for memory. They were occupied almost the entire room due to their enormous size.
It used punched cards, magnetic tapes, paper tapes as input and output devices.
Almost all the early computers were large.
Most early computers were very large cabinets or many 19 inch relay racks packed full of vacuum tube electronics.
Super Computer
As with all computers early mainframes did not multitask (early microcomputers did not multitask, early minicomputers did not multitask, early supercomputers did not multitask). Now almost all computers multitask. Multitasking has nothing to do with the size of a computer, it is almost entirely a software feature of the OS running on the computer.
About the same as today, but they were too expensive for individuals to buy.
Almost all the early computers were large.
An early computer would be extremly large. Its whole length would be roughly 30 to 40ft long and at least 10ft tall
The same time as the early computers. They were large because their components (vacuum tubes) were large, not because they could handle large problems.
No the first computer was meant for calculations and was extremely difficult to use, expensive, and large. It also did not have the GUI that you know of today.
The answer you're looking for is... mainframe
The plural of computer is computersand the plural of is is are, e.g. the computer is expensive: the computers are expensive.
Which of the following are large, expensive, powerful computers that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously and store tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information? MAIN FRAMES
There are no records for the most expensive computer desk in the world. A computer desk price or value can be very expensive if it is a custom made piece of luxury furniture.
Labor costs at most computer stores are quite expensive, you are better off finding a computer savvy friend to do it for you.
This has varied widely. The early ones in the 1970s were quite slow, most current ones are faster than the most expensive supercomputers of the 1960s.
The most expensive computer is made in Japan. It is an Earth simulator costing over $400,000,000, which makes it the most expensive computer ever built.This very expensive computer is used for a variety of international projects. Most are related to atmospheric, climate, and oceanographic simulation.
That is a relative judgement. The motherboard is one of the more expensive parts of a computer. On the other hand, it's cheaper than a whole new computer. Also, they vary in price, depending on the processor and the quality and features of the board. Prices (US, early 2011) range from $70 to $300 (not including processor and memory).