WDIM - Hardware
Introduction
I was in a meeting recently where the topic of hardware and software came up and was asked to give a definition of both. Although I can look at a piece of computer hardware and tell you that it is, in fact, computer hardware, I found it difficult to explain it simply, especially in contrast to software. This became a further complication as I was considering the "virtual hardware" that VMs (Virtual Machines) use and whether I would consider that hardware or software. How would you, the reader, explain the difference between software and hardware?
History
The earliest forms of computer hardware date back to the BC era. These were rudimentary pieces of machinery that were used for basic counting and record keeping, such as a counting stick which would be engraved with "notches" to indicate the count of some items, like produce or livestock. This gave way to the Abacus, then to a programmable loom, and eventually to some really interesting machines that helped calculate where south was or what the moon was doing (Check out: south-pointing chariot or the astrolabe). Eventually, hardware advanced to the point where it made multiplication and division easier, assisted in cracking encrypted codes during WW2, and ultimately lead to where we are today (skipping a few hundred years between each point).
Motherboard
A motherboard is one essential piece of the computer hardware that might be the most well known by name, but the most misunderstood in reality. Affectionately called a "mobo", the motherboard is responsible for the interconnectivity between all of the children in the computer (see what I did there?). How the CPU, memory, storage, networking, heating/cooling, and other components interact and talk with each other is entirely dependent on the motherboard's interconnectivity and sometimes even houses the essentials of the computer on its circuit board.
Chassis or Cabinet
Another important piece of computer hardware, but most definitely overlooked, is the chassis or cabinet of the computer. When interacting with a computer, whether a desktop or laptop, the traditional user interacts with the chassis of the computer regularly, more so on a laptop than a desktop. The desktop chassis is also called a tower, for obvious reasons, whereas the laptop chassis does not really have an alternative name, since users typically look at a laptop chassis and think "a laptop". However, in both cases, the computer chassis is the hardware which protects the internal computer hardware and is also used to direct airflow in order to cool down the computer's insides. Some people/companies have made large sums of money by creating customized computer chassis (Check out this link to see some pretty interesting ones).
Rest of the Kit and Caboodle
We have previously discussed storage and how it has split between RAM/Memory and hard disks, which are both pieces of your computer hardware. We have also talked about networks, which have hardware components in your computer. Some of the other important hardware pieces would be your CPU (Central Processing Unit) which handles the processing of input and output, the Power Supply (the name says it all), your keyboard, mouse/trackpad which sends your actions to the computer, and the monitor which displays the output that the user requested. To add to the confusion of the different hardware pieces, there are so many different companies that sell these components, using different technologies, different processes, and a multitude of other variations. But if technology is supposed to make our lives easier, why is there so much confusion in the basic foundations of what a computer is?
Why does it matter?
Because computers have become such an integral part to our lives, (how we operate, how we do business, how we avoid awkward family conversations, etc.) companies have leveraged this confusion to make money off of the lack of understanding. Will you buy the computer with the cool looking chassis (because cool looking chassis = gaming computer that can hack China), or the one with the most RAM (lots of RAM must mean speed), or the one with the higher number next to the CPU (Core i7 over Core i5? obviously better)? The reality is, when you approach a computer as a last minute purchase to get something done, your requirements are limited to price and "does it computer?". This can lead to over-purchasing or under-purchasing what you need. With a proper understanding of computers you can be better equipped to navigate the harsh waters of your local Best Buy computer aisle.