hardware

Submitted by admin on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 16:06
surplus monitors
  1. introduction
  2. what it is
    1. second hand hardware
  3. what it isn't
  4. where it is
  5. history

introduction

Hardware is a collective name for things you can touch. A computer is made up of two types of thing: hardware and software.

what it is

Historically, the name hardware meant anything bought from hardware stores such as hammers, nails and paint. Today any physical thing is called hardware. Military hardware such as tanks and missiles cannot be bought from hardware stores, no matter how popular it would prove to be. Computer hardware is the collection of things you plug in, power on and tune in that gives software a place to exist and to run. Computer hardware includes cables, keyboards and disk drives.

The hardware provides a way of organising, storing and re-ordering electricity. You can give simple instructions to hardware and receive simple messages back without using software, such as pushing a button and lighting up a bulb, but this is an extremely limited way of working. You can get more out of hardware using software.

A computer built for running a server is different from a general purpose PC. It tends to be a big beefy box with lots of memory, CPU and disk space and nothing fun such as a graphics card or audio speakers.

second hand hardware

Two European Union Directives make it difficult for organizations to trash their old computers.

  • WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
  • RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment).

The U.S. government leaned on big computer manufacturers to make them start a collection service for old computers. These may be melted down and some components recycled.

Sadly, a lot of old computers get shipped to Africa where fewer laws protect the innocent from e-waste. A lot of old computers remain in Europe and are sold very cheap.

what it isn't

Important to understand. People like making a division between hardware and software because it is an easy way to simplify the confusing world of computers. It is a view of the computer world from a distance that sees none of the little details.

where it is

Every part of the LIC is either hardware or software.

history

In 1967 the IBM company announced it would no longer bundle software and hardware together. The software industry was born.