What type of computer is more powerful than a personal computer but less powerful than a mainframe?

The correct answer is a minicomputer. Minicomputers serve as a category of computing systems that bridge the gap between personal computers and mainframe systems. They are designed to handle tasks that require greater processing capabilities than what standard personal computers can provide, making them suitable for small to medium-sized businesses that need more computational power without the extensive resources required for mainframes.

Minicomputers typically support multiple users and can run more complex applications, which makes them more powerful than personal computers. However, they do not match the vast capabilities, scalability, and performance of mainframes, which are intended for intensive data processing and large-scale transactions.

In contrast, microcomputers, while still essential for many applications, are limited in capability as they refer specifically to personal computers. Mainframes represent a higher tier of computing power and are utilized for very large scale operations, and supercomputers are at the top of the hierarchy, designed for the most demanding tasks in scientific and engineering computations. Therefore, minicomputers occupy that unique niche between personal computers and mainframes, making them the right choice for this question.