General-purpose computers and embedded devices perform different tasks. Embedded systems can only execute one program at a time. Programming is impossible for embedded systems. General-purpose systems need faster processing than embedded systems, which are runtime-limited.

Embedded and general-purpose computers serve different purposes. Unlike computers, embedded devices only execute one software application. Embedded systems are unprogrammable. General-purpose systems demand faster processing than runtime-restricted embedded systems.

Architecture and organisation of a computer are different, but they are also linked.

Unlike microcomputers, which include input/output (I/O) devices, microprocessors do not.