Software allows you to use your computer hardware. Software can be the operating system that you use, such as Windows or Mac OS, or applications that perform specific jobs, such as recording and formatting text.
✏️ Do you know what operating system the device you are using right now is? Do you know its full name, including its version?*
When you buy a computer, it should come with an operating system or OS. Phones and tablets also come with operating systems. Most colleges use Windows OS for the campus computers, so most of your faculty will be using Windows OS. The most popular operating systems in the US are:
Image of MacOS on laptop with Windows OS on monitor. Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
➡️Did you know? Chrome is both the name of an OS, on Chromebooks, and the name of a software application, the Chrome browser. The Chrome browser can be used on any computer, tablet, or phone. Chrome OS can only be used on computers.
Software applications (or apps), are programs designed to help you do a specific task. Examples include applications that help you write words, such as LibreOffice Writer, apps that help you communicate (email), and apps that help you manage numbers, called spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel.
Your college likely has applications that you can download and use for free because you are a student. Contact your college IT department to ask about free applications.
Unless your college or course requires it, you likely do not need to pay for expensive applications to do your college work. Most computers and tablets come with software and colleges regularly make software available to their students as part of student fees. What is know as open source software can provide free or low-cost alternatives to commercial applications.
For example, if your college does not supply you with Microsoft Office, you can skip paying $70-$150 for the Office software and use LibreOffice instead. Some courses require specific software, and should include those requirements both when you sign up and in the syllabus.
Key terms
Clicking the Windows key on Windows computer and searching for "About" or clicking the apple icon in the upper right hand corner of the window on a Mac computer will tell you what version of the OS your are using. Chrome OS, iOS, and Android show the OS version in their settings pages
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