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software Last modified: Friday, January 04, 2002

Computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software. The storage devices and display devices are hardware. The terms software and hardware are used as both nouns and adjectives. For example, you can say: "The problem lies in the software," meaning that there is a problem with the program or data, not with the computer itself. You can also say: "It's a software problem." The distinction between software and hardware is sometimes confusing because they are so integrally linked. Clearly, when you purchase a program, you are buying software. But to buy the software, you need to buy the disk (hardware) on which the software is recorded. Software is often divided into two categories: systems software : Includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer to function. applications software : Includes programs that do real work for users. For example, word processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems fall under the category of applications software. Sponsored listings Software - IBM Online Meetings. Run Better Meetings Online. Easy to Use. Get Complimentary Trial.

Software Publishers Association home page  The Software Publishers Association is a leading association for the software industry. Their site offers links to news and events, a member directory, courses, publications, and research information. Business Software Alliance (BSA) home page The BSA is an organization promoting the continued growth of the software industry through its international public policy, enforcement, and education programs. Their site offers links to news, resources, policies, anti-virus information, and worldwide hotlines. CNET's download.com site A site for locating downloadable software by keyword or by subject category, from CNET. League for programming freedom Provides news, position statements and legal resouces covering software patent issues and user interface copyrights. Includes information on the LZW patent. Superkids - Educational software reviews SuperKids provides reviews of children's software, by parents, teachers, and children. Following a 'Consumer Reports' format, each month an acadmic subject and age range is selected for product comparisons. WebShopper Computer hardware and software buyer's guide with helpful product-related articles and recommendations. WinSite software archive Home page for WinSite, a comprehensive Windows software archive. This site offers a search or browse utility to locate software, which you can then download. Yahoo!'s software companies page Yahoo!'s directory of links to software companies. Yahoo!'s software page Yahoo!'s directory of software links.