Computer: 計算機 or 計算器?


What is the difference between the two kanji variants for 「けいさんき」, the other
word for 「コンピューター」?

  * 計算器
  * 計算機 




計算機 usually means a calculator, although it can also mean a computer in
academic contexts and legal contexts as YOU, Axioplase, and Rei stated. For
example, the [Information Processing Society of
Japan](http://www.ipsj.or.jp/english/index.html) has a special interest group
called [計算機アーキテクチャ研究会](http://sigarc.hpcc.jp/) (the Special Interest Group for
Computer Architecture). The usual word for a computer is コンピューター or パソコン (for
パーソナルコンピューター (personal computer)), as Axioplase and Rei noted.

The notation 計算器 is rare. According to web search, the notation 計算器 seems to
mean either:

  * a [slide rule](http://www.concise.co.jp/products/rule/generalrule.html#08), although 計算尺 (けいさんじゃく) seems to be a more common word for a slide rule, or
  * a [mechanical calculator](http://www.tiger-inc.co.jp/temawashi/temawashi.html) (as sawa observed), although 計算機 is also valid for a mechanical calculator.

I think that in general, using 器 instead of 機 implies simplicity, which
sometimes refers to mechanical nature but not always. As an evidence that 器
does not always mean a mechanical construction, the Japanese word for an
[adder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adder_%28electronics%29), an electronic
circuit for addition, is usually written as
[加算器](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%A0%E7%AE%97%E5%99%A8), although the
notation 加算機 is also sometimes used.

_Edit in revision 2_ : Added that 計算器 can mean a slide rule.




計算機 usually means a calculator, although it can also mean a computer in
academic contexts and legal contexts as YOU, Axioplase, and Rei stated. For
example, the [Information Processing Society of
Japan](http://www.ipsj.or.jp/english/index.html) has a special interest group
called [計算機アーキテクチャ研究会](http://sigarc.hpcc.jp/) (the Special Interest Group for
Computer Architecture). The usual word for a computer is コンピューター or パソコン (for
パーソナルコンピューター (personal computer)), as Axioplase and Rei noted.

The notation 計算器 is rare. According to web search, the notation 計算器 seems to
mean either:

  * a [slide rule](http://www.concise.co.jp/products/rule/generalrule.html#08), although 計算尺 (けいさんじゃく) seems to be a more common word for a slide rule, or
  * a [mechanical calculator](http://www.tiger-inc.co.jp/temawashi/temawashi.html) (as sawa observed), although 計算機 is also valid for a mechanical calculator.

I think that in general, using 器 instead of 機 implies simplicity, which
sometimes refers to mechanical nature but not always. As an evidence that 器
does not always mean a mechanical construction, the Japanese word for an
[adder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adder_%28electronics%29), an electronic
circuit for addition, is usually written as
[加算器](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%A0%E7%AE%97%E5%99%A8), although the
notation 加算機 is also sometimes used.

_Edit in revision 2_ : Added that 計算器 can mean a slide rule.

