Hardware and software work together in digital devices and systems to provide computerized functionality. Hardware includes the physical components such as the motherboard, chips, memory, and hard drives, while software includes the programs. While both are most often associated with computers, the software also runs on other hardware, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning satellite (GPS) units, medical equipment, and traffic control systems. aerial. Modern cash registers are also computerized with software to better organize sales-related issues such as inventory, taxes, and coupon discounts.
A computer motherboard.
Hardware and software are constantly improving, in a way that makes a leap. The former is usually the bottleneck when it comes to data transfer speeds or how fast a program can run. Therefore, as hardware improves, it becomes capable of running more robust programs. Old hardware from just ten years ago may not run today’s software, as programs can be designed to take advantage of hardware in ways that older computers can’t.
A dual core CPU mounted on a motherboard.
For this reason, when purchasing software, the purchaser should refer to the specifications for the recommended minimum hardware requirements. The central processing unit (CPU) of a computer is almost always mentioned, as this hardware is responsible for the overall speed of the computer as a whole. The amount of random access memory (RAM) is another factor, and graphics capability or video card requirements may also be mentioned.
RAM, a type of hardware.
If you want to buy software but aren’t sure what hardware you have, most operating systems have a built-in program to display hardware and software system information. In Windows XP, navigate by clicking the Start button, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Information. You can print the system summary home page, and then click the corresponding heading in the tree on the left to see the new information displayed on the right. For example, click “Components” and then “Video” to see details about your computer’s video card.
A desktop PC.
Some IT professionals specialize in hardware, while others focus on programming software.
