A superminicomputer, or supermini, is a minicomputer with high performance compared to ordinary minicomputers. The term was an invention used from the mid-1970s^[1] mainly to distinguish the emerging 32-bit minis from the classical 16-bit minicomputers.^[2] The term is now largely obsolete but still remains of interest for students/researchers of computer history.

Significant superminis

• Norsk Data NORD-5, first supermini, 1972
• Norsk Data Nord-50, 1975
• Interdata 7/32 and 8/32 later taken over by PerkinElmer
• Systems Engineering Laboratories 32/55, 1976
• DEC VAX-11/780, shipped February 1978
• Data General Eclipse MV/8000, 1980
• MAI Basic Four MAI 8000, 1983 http://www.answers.com/topic/mai-systems-corporation and MPx http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n1903_v38/ai_12041852/
• Gould Electronics Powernode 9080
• Gould Electronics NP-1
• Norsk Data ND-500, 1981
• Norsk Data ND-570/CX, fastest supermini, 1983, at 7.1 Whetstone MIPS
• Prime Computer 750

References

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