what does a computer need software for ?

Question

computerf

Answer 1

Think of a computer as a tool box. Without software, the toolbox is nearly empty. You CAN surf the internet without any additional software and create documents. But adding software gives you additional tools to use... To make videos, to create intelligent lists and formulas... to create documents.

Answer 2

Lots of answers on here say you "need" software but that isn't necessarily so. You *could* hardwire an application (similar to how one hardwire's a non-digital watch to work) on hardware that would do what Microsoft Word can do (it would be a very-very complicated set of chips on a big motherboard)... the problem is that it would be too cumbersome, huge and costly to build, modify and troubleshoot. This is why we have hardware and software, we take advantages of hardware by creating cpus that are expected to do a generic set of operations (move memory, add, subtract, multiply, etc)... and by having a generic set of possible operations (hardwired) into the cpu, we can take advantage of software (soft-wired) which is an instruction set (a subset of cpu instructions) that is in memory and can be re-written (dynamic) at anytime without having to re-wire stuff all over the place... so it boils down to "no", you don't need software (because you could hardwire it if you were crazy enough), but "yes" you want software because life is much easier using it.

Answer 3

A computer is just an expensive doorstop without software. The software is required for the computer to perform the task that you want it do.

Answer 4

Software is a program that enables a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.

Software is needed to run your computer,

Answer 5

Without software a computer is just a hunk of useless metal. It needs software in order to perform any sort of useful functions.

Answer 6

So that the computer knows that today it is going to be a computer and not a car or a toaster. Also, software helps the computer manipulate and present data/images.

Answer 7

Software is what makes your installed programs work. It includes the "drivers" that tell your programs what to do and what to react to. Without software (drivers) your installed programs would just sit there....like a ship floating on the water with a dead engine. Software could also be called the "guidance system" for your installed programs (word processor, games, etc. etc.).

Answer 8

Like a human body can't run without a brain, a computer can't run without softwares. They basically tell the hardwares what needs to be done.
Hope that helps...

Answer 9

without it you have an expensive calculator, as that is all computers are, machines adept to adding, subraction, multiplication and division. The clever bit is the software, which by allowing you to manipulate numbers in a structured manner, can achieve amazing results, from car park ticketing machines to an xbox 360 and everything in between.

hope this helps

Answer 10

Software is much more flexible than hardware. Basic functionality (i.e. how to read the software) is hard-wired into the computer, but if all the functionality was hardwired then (a) the hardware would be huge and expensive, and (b) you couldn't add or delete programs without adding or removing hardware.