One of the principal reasons that the personal computer has become a universally used appliance is that there is a wide array of software designed to support the needs and interests of home users. The personal computer is not only a workstation for word processing, accounting, and Internet access. It is also a reference library providing direct access to atlases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works; an entertainment system providing recorded music, movies, and games; and occasionally a medium for controlling other automated home systems.

The software commonly installed on home systems falls into the following categories:

• Productivity applications, including office suites, personal financial management, and HTML composer/editor applications;
• System and disk management utilities;
• Anti-virus software;
• File compression, decompression, and archiving applications;
• Digital document and eBook readers;
• Internet connectivity and web browsing;
• Reference tools;
• Streaming audio and video players;
• CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) and...