What are laptop hardware and software?

Your computing experience consists of interactions with hardware and software. Hardware is all tangible computer equipment, such as the body of a laptop that contains the hard drive, keyboard, and touchpad for pointing at and clicking on on-screen items.
Software is what makes devices work or lets you get things done, like writing documents with Microsoft Word or playing a Solitaire game. Think of hardware as like your TV, and think of software as like the programs you watch on it.

The hardware on your laptop consists of
The Central Processing Unit (CPU), a very small, very high-tech semiconductor chip (integrated circuit) that acts as the brain of your computer. The CPU is stored in your laptop along with the other nuts and bolts of your computer.
A monitor that displays images on its screen in a manner similar to the way a TV screen displays programs. Your computer screen, for example, shows you the Microsoft Windows 8.1 desktop, a video you’re watching in an online entertainment site, or a document in a program. Today, some laptops use touch screens, which allow you to use your finger on the screen to provide input to the computer.
A keyboard similar to a typewriter keyboard. In addition to typing words and numbers, you can use a keyboard to give the computer commands such as selecting text or objects and copying and pasting.
The touchpad, which you also use to give commands to your computer, but this little device offers a more tactile way to provide input. You can move the laptop’s cursor on the screen using a built-in pointing device, which may take the form of a touchpad or a small button.
Move your finger around the touchpad. This moves the pointer around the screen. You can place this cursor over the on-screen button or menu name, for example, and then click the left side or side of the touchpad which will trigger an action.
You can also tap and drag the tip of your finger to select text or an object to perform an action on it (such as deleting a file or making a line of text bold). You also have the option to connect a physical wireless mouse to your laptop; A small transmitter that you plug into a USB port on your laptop allows a mouse to be inserted.

A webcam, speakers, and possibly a microphone, will likely be built into your laptop. The webcam allows you to produce video images that you can share during video phone calls and instant messaging sessions. The speakers play sounds, and the built-in microphone allows you to record audio files.
Ports for connecting peripheral devices, such as a printer or scanner. The laptop comes with slots where you can connect various peripherals (additional devices). The type of port you’ll be using most often is called a USB port; It’s a useful little slot for connecting small disks called flash drives where you can store data on, or devices that usually have a USB connector (such as digital cameras and smartphones).
Software (also known as software or applications) is installed on a laptop’s hard drive that’s in the laptop sleeve. Here are some basics about the program:
You use software to get your work done, run entertainment software, and surf the Internet. For example, Quicken is a financial management software that you can use to balance your checkbook or keep track of your home inventory for insurance purposes.
Some software comes pre-installed on the laptop; You can purchase and install other software as you need it. Computers must have an operating system installed in order to be of any use because the operating system runs all other programs. Also, some software is built into your operating system – like WordPad, a simple word processing program. But you are not limited to pre-installed software.

You can buy other software or download free software from the Internet. For example, you can find Skype (a free program that enables you to make phone calls over the Internet using your laptop) in the Windows Store or on the Internet and install it on your laptop yourself.
You can uninstall programs you no longer need. Uninstalling unwanted programs helps free up some space on your laptop, which helps it perform better.
There are programs called utilities to keep your laptop in good shape. Antivirus software is an example of a utility used to detect and erase computer viruses from your system. Your operating system (such as Windows 8.1) also includes some utilities, such as Disk Cleanup to free up wasted space on your hard drive or Windows Defender.
Windows Defender protects your laptop from unwanted intrusion by malicious software called spyware.