Software is simply a series of instructions and information that tell a particular computer how to perform. This is different than physical hardware where the machine is constructed and actually does all the work. In a sense, software refers to the “wheel” that a PC turns when you turn it on. Basically, the more instructions a software program has in the form of user-level or machine-level code, the easier it will be for the PC to perform the specific tasks.
To take an example out of this, let’s say you want to create an audio track. You would simply use a music creation application software that creates the tracks for you. On the other hand, let’s say you want to send email. You would use a mail application software to do so. Both these examples involve hardware and software having similar instructions to operate on the same machine.
As you can see, hardware and application software are completely different from one another. What makes them similar is that they both operate on a single operating system (OS). The reason why there is a problem is because each OS differs slightly from the other. Despite their similarities, each operating system was designed differently. This means that if you have a PC that works on Windows XP, then you will not be able to send email to someone on a Mac computer, or vice versa.
As you can see, hardware and software are completely different from one another. However, both are necessary for computers to function. Without either, a computer could not run. That’s why every PC must have both hardware and software installed. Otherwise, no matter how good a PC is, it would not be able to function.
The importance of software quality and design cannot be underestimated. A computer that runs without any type of software design or high-level programming is completely useless. Therefore, if you are going to purchase a new PC, make sure that it comes with a software design card. A software engineer is someone who goes over the design of a PC and its various components. Most PC owners do not know that this person exists, but it is very important to have someone who is knowledgeable and skilled at designing programs for PCs.
Both hardware and application software play an important role in making your computer system run. However, Windows OS needs the Windows registry to run properly, as does the OS for your network attached storage (NAS). The importance of having high-quality software in your PC is evident when you are using Microsoft Windows. Not only does it run extremely fast, it also runs flawlessly while on the network. Therefore, unless you want to spend all day searching for corrupt files or missing application software, it is imperative to have both hardware and application software up to par with your network system software.