Buying and Using Software

Software is a bunch of magnetic "ones and zeros," or electronic signals, that takes your thousands of dollars worth of plastic, metal and glass—your personal computer, or hardware—and animates it into something that lets you "fly" an airplane, balance your checkbook or manage your small business. Most personal computers sold today come with a "bundle" of software pre-loaded onto the computer, including basic financial, word processing, communications and entertainment software.