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Hardware and software work together to provide computerized functionality. Hardware includes physical components, while software includes programs. Both are constantly improving, with hardware being the bottleneck for data transfer speeds. When purchasing software, check recommended minimum hardware requirements and use built-in programs to display system information.
Hardware and software work together in digital devices and systems to provide computerized functionality. Hardware includes physical components, such as motherboard, chips, memory, and hard drives, while software includes programs. While both are most often associated with computers, software also runs on other hardware, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), global positioning satellite (GPS) units, medical equipment, and air traffic control systems. Modern cash registers are also computerized with software to better organize sales matters such as inventory, tax, and coupon discounts.
Hardware and software are constantly improving in a sort of quantum leap. The former is most often 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 a decade ago may not run current software, as programs may be designed to take advantage of the hardware in ways that older equipment can’t support.
For this reason, when purchasing software, the buyer should check 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, in general. The amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) is another factor, and graphics capability or video card requirements might also be mentioned.
If you want to buy software but aren’t sure what hardware you have, most operating systems have a built-in program for displaying hardware and software system information. In Windows XP, navigate by clicking the Start button, then All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Information. You may wish to print the initial system summary page, then click the appropriate heading in the tree on the left to see the new information displayed on the right. For example, click “Components” and then click “Display” to view details about your computer’s video card.
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