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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
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kanji homophonic-kanji
Computer: 計算機 or 計算器?
機 usually refers to a somewhat large(-scale) "machine" (機械), while 器 usually
refers to a small(-scale) "tool" (器具). So I think the latter would be closer
to a computer (back when they were huge, beastly machines) and the former
would be closer to a calculator (電卓). But the 機 or 器 definitely implies scale.
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2011-07-04T13:58:03.000
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Japanese Law related to computers use as
[電子計算機](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%94%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF#.E8.A1.A8.E8.A8.98)【でんしけいさんき】
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2011-07-04T15:14:42.210
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`計算機` means `computer`, while `計算器` means `calculator`.
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2011-07-04T15:17:19.413
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The rough difference (with possible exceptions) are as follows:

```

    `器` mechanical, has direct contact with human, not motored, often human powered, handy
    `機` not necessarily mechanical, large, motored
    
```

Nowadays, most computers are electronically driven, with no mechanical parts
playing a crucial role (fans, disks are not used for computing). In addition,
it is electrically powered, (E.g., without necessity for a human turning a
crank). So to mention the present computers, `機` is appropriate. If you want
to mention a physically driven human powered calculator/computer, like
Pascal's calculator, then `器` is appropriate.
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2011-07-04T15:19:51.637
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For what it is worth, パソコン and コンピュータ are also very valid words for computer,
used in IT and CS contexts. I don't think we use 計算機 except to express the
wording "a machine that does computations".

Edit: I just asked around me: 計算機 is a technical word. You will be understood
by specialists (like computer scientists, who were likely to be the only ones
to have access to computers initially when the word was coined), but the
average person will think of a pocket calculator instead. パソコン、 コンピュータ、 PC、and
マック are used by the non specialists.
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2011-07-05T02:11:31.827
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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.
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