2006-08-04 17:25:08 · 26 answers · asked by happylittlewhalewithpinkpants 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
whatever is hard on your computer
(thats really what it is!, if you cant phase through it like your Microsoft Word program, then its hardware. software are the programs you have in ur hardware)
2006-08-05 03:08:15 · answer #1 · answered by Eng 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Computer hardware is the actual physical components that make up a computer - i.e. Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Hard Drive, Motherboard, Memory Chips, etc.
Computer software is the "virtual" components, such as applications or programs you would normally run on a computer, but cannot physically touch.
2006-08-05 00:30:31 · answer #2 · answered by Dude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compatible Hardware and Software overviewCompatible Hardware and Software is an informational service provided by Microsoft on the Internet that helps you decide which programs and hardware will work best with your computer. Use Compatible Hardware and Software to preview products before you buy them, or to check whether the products you have now need to be updated. The site is updated regularly, so you can always get the most recent information.
Search by manufacturer or product, or browse through lists of software and hardware devices. When you find the product you are looking for, you can review the compatibility status provided to determine if this product works with Windows XP or if you need an update. In many cases, Microsoft and other software and hardware vendors have tested a product and rated its compatibility with Windows XP. In other cases, the product's compatibility status is determined through practical use. Microsoft encourages other vendors to submit information about how well their product works with Windows XP.
Notes
To get the most up-to-date compatibility information, you must be connected to the Internet.
Compatibility is not necessarily a complete list of programs and devices compatible with Windows XP. It is a collection of products for which test data has been submitted to Microsoft. If you do not find a specific product, contact the manufacturer and encourage them to register their product in the Windows Logo Program on the Microsoft Web site (go to http://www.microsoft.com/ and search for "Windows Logo Program").
2006-08-05 00:29:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hardware is the general term that is used to describe physical artifacts of a technology.
It can be equipment such as fasteners, keys, locks, hinges, latches, corners, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts, especially when they are made of metal. In the United States, hardware has been traditionally sold in "hardware stores".
Though often used interchangeably to mean "hand tools," hardware historically referred to the metal bits that were used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, longer lasting and easier to fabricate/assemble than if they did not have the benefit of metal fittings.
In a looser sense, hardware can be major military equipment, or electronic equipment, or computer equipment.
In slang, the term refers to trophies and other physical representations of awards.
2006-08-05 00:27:59 · answer #4 · answered by NA A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically, hardware is the things you can see, feel, touch and use.
Such as the PC mainbox and its contents, the keyboard, mouse, monitor.
It can include any device you use to input inofrmation, such as keyboard, mouse, scanner, flash drives, memory sticks to the computer, and any thing used to produce output, such as the screen, printer etc.
Software is the other part, this is always in the form of codes that are held on the hard drive or any storage device, therefore sometimes called the "bit you can see, but not touch" :-)
2006-08-05 00:32:42 · answer #5 · answered by OzHawk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hardware is the physical items in the ocmputer that you can touch, like the motherboard, the cd rom, the fan, the wires, etc. Software would be the things you have installed on your computer, such as Instant Messanger, any games you play, internet explorer, the stuff you can't physically touch.
2006-08-05 00:30:22 · answer #6 · answered by jcarriere18 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The computer parts themselves; the software is what you program it with to make it do different things. Sort of like the car would be hardware, but the gas would be software, because it makes the car go.
2006-08-05 00:29:31 · answer #7 · answered by telaine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's on fire, it's a hardware issue.
Hardware is the stuff you can touch and feel. Software is the instructions that makes the hardware do stuff.
2006-08-05 01:10:10 · answer #8 · answered by Raffy_AdAstra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the actual computer--a physical device made out of silicon, copper, fiberglass, etc. The term is meant in contrast to software, which is the instructions that make the computer do things. Hardware is physical; software is just information. You need them both to do anything useful.
2006-08-05 00:29:23 · answer #9 · answered by gunghoiguana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hardware is all of the physical stuff. The mouse, keyboard, computer case, cd drive, motherboard and all of that.
Software consists of all the programs installed.
2006-08-05 00:29:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of hardware as things you can touch.. the monitor, the disk drive, the printer... thats all hardware. I think of software as the stuffyou cant really touch - once its loaded that is.. programs like AOL, Miscrosoft Office, Word, Excel, Adobe
2006-08-05 00:30:04 · answer #11 · answered by ellemck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋