2nd generations · The second generation of computers was characterized by transistors instead of vacuum tubes and was smaller in size and weight. The devices utilized magnetic tape, which resulted in a faster read and write operation, and calculated data at an increased speed.This generation of computers used operating systems containing instructions that any software could use which allowed programmers to write instructions using English-like command languages such as Fortran and COBOL. The computers in this generation were smaller, cheaper, more reliable and used less power.