A more clearer definition of software is a bundle of files that resides under one title. But what is meant by this? Examples of software can include computer games, programs like Microsoft Word, Grade Machine, Corel Word Perfect, etc., even computer viruses (a virus) are considered software.

But there has to be more than this, right? Right. There are many special kinds of software. Evaluation (or demo) copies is software that may be part of the software may be functionable, upon which may or may not have a set time for you to try it out, to see if you like it before you buy it. When the time is up (usually a month) then you will have to uninstall the program or register it (you can re-install the demo or change your date back some ways - don't do this on your school computer). Games usually have demos, while other software usually has evaluation copies. Another term meaning the same thing is shareware, which usually both a game or application may be called. When a complete program (note that this, and application, are used for short for a software (more than one file) and even software suites: has more than one program on it, bundled (mixed on 1 disk or disc) together (these may be referred to as bundled packages, software bundles, etc.; Microsoft Office, McAfee Office) comes with an expiration date, this is called fully-functional. Software or files that you can get for free, no expiration dates, no limitations, are called freeware. Screensavers and wallpaper are usually freeware.

However, software is usually categorized in vast detail. For example, word-processing programs may be placed in a business or productivity category. Anti-virus software is usually categorized as utilities, if not anti-virus. Multimedia can be categorizez as software dealing with the management of music, video and sound. Encyclopedias can be put into such category, as tutorials helping students with their school work. Voice-recognition software (like language programs or even programs which will type what you speak) can easily fit under this category as well. Communications software (or telephony) can be anywhere from computer phones to Internet phones (basically anything that requires a microphone where you talk back and forth). The Internet is not included in this category since it fits in a category of its own, as so do games. Keep in mind that such categories, and what kinds of software is put in each, is determined by the producer, so don't be surprised if you see some programs under different categories than what I have mentioned, for example, language programs placed under an Education category.

Finally we learn just how programs can perform for the consumer. You may have heard of programs telling you that they're user-friendly. This means that, unlike DOS, which isn't user-friendly, these programs are easy even for a beginner to navigate through without any experience or knowledge of computers, plus it provides a GUI to help the user in getting around the program. Still, whether a program is user-friendly can stir quite a debate. Some people believe that Grade Machine is user-friendly, while others don't. Most programs where their are alot of hassles to do to get something done are not considered user-friendly, like Microsoft Word. Both operating systems: Macintosh and Windows are user-friendly because you don't need to know a whole lot about them to do some things, like paint, play solitaire, or even play a CD. You may have seen that a program lists WYSIWYG somewhere in its description. This is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get, and it's quite simple. Anything that you see on the screen that YOU put in (printing out a document, a picture, or even a mid-term with Grade Machine; this being what you see) can be printed, and as you see it on the screen, it will come out on your printed copy (this being what you get).

You learnt how they were distributed, which can be summed up as distributive media. Now you will learn more about hardware.

TIP: Programs and games are usually installed by opening a setup.exe or install.exe file.