Computers and the Internet are a wonderful addition to our lives. I spend a large portion of my life, interacting and collaborating with people all over the world, through the use of my computer system that has access to the Internet. Computers benefit or can benefit everyone and anyone, in some way or another. However, the more I talk to people that use their computer systems, the more I notice that many do not understand how their systems work. Many seem to be confused when I mention the different parts of a computer system. So, I decided to write this easy-to-understand guise that will familiarize you with main components of the PC, Personal Computer. If you are thinking about buying a PC or just bought one for the first time, this article will be very, very helpful to you.

Non-Physical Parts of Your PC (Software)

Computer Software

Computer software is a compilation of structured, written instructions that are executed by the physical components of your personal system. Physical components of your PC do not understand human language, so those instructions are written by highly trained computer programmers, using languages (set of commands) that your personal computer does understand.

If you have just bought your personal computer, it probably came with Windows XP. Windows XP is an example of computer software, also called a computer program. It falls under the software category of Operating System (OS). Operating system gives you the ability to control and use your personal computer. Windows XP is probably one of the most complicated software ever created. Windows XP is an operating system with a visual user interface. For example, you are reading this article through an Internet Browser. To get to this browser, you most likely clicked your mouse on an Icon (small image that represents a program or a file). If you look on top of your Internet browser (another example of a computer software/program), you will see menus that you can click on and expand. All these features are part of the visual user interface of Windows XP. There are other operating systems that do not have visual user interface; examples would be DOS or UNIX. In those systems, you cannot click on anything. To perform any activity, you actually have to type commands, and that means you have to memorize those commands.Other examples of computer software are word processors (to create various documents), email clients (to create/receive electronic mail), video/audio players, and many others. If not for computer software, personal computer would be absolutely useless to a casual user. With your personal computer and different computer programs that you can purchase even at your local department store, you can create music, draw paintings, organize your personal or business finances, and do anything else you can imagine. The possibilities are endless!