All the elements that go together to make up a PC fall into one of twocategories, hardware or software. This section is about software, the stuffthat runs on top of the hardware.
Webster defines software as 'something used or associated with and usuallycontrasted with hardware as the entire set of programs, procedures, and relateddocumentation associated with a system and especially a computer system.'
Nine out of every 10 PCs used in homes worldwide, run some type of Windowsoperating system.
There are two types software found in every PC:
anOperating System and Application Programs
Operating Systems (OS) provide the basic platform that brings the PC to a pointwhere it can work with application programs and interface with users.
Think of your car running at idle after you start it. Until the engine andbasic systems are up and running you can't use it to run any applications likegoing to the store or work or anywhere else!
Operating Systems can be divided into two groups: Windows and non-Windows I chose this classificationbecause of the wide spread use of Windows operating systems and not on anyparticular technical aspects of the many operating systems in use today.
Application Programs are loaded and run ontop of the OS. There are application programs to do just about anything youwant. From finding any location in the world via a street address, listening tomusic, watching videos or TV to something very simple like a program to helpyou learn how to type (what I need). You name it and someone has probablydeveloped an application to do it!