"I couldn't choose between hardware and software," he said of his dual academic track.

"The tradeoffs between hardware and software were drilled into my head at a very early age," he said.

The next e-mail asked us to explain the difference between hardware, firmware and software.

People are still waiting to see the real synergies between hardware and software.

In the beginning, a difference between hardware and software did not exist.

It will also teach you the difference between hardware and software.

Effective use of ring architecture requires close cooperation between hardware and the operating system.

Yet some early opportunities for cooperation between software and hardware have produced more conflicts than results.

The drivers also act as an interface between hardware and software.

But the distinction between software and hardware is not nearly so clear-cut.