COMPUTER BASICS What Exactly is a Computer? In its most basic form, a computer is a tool that allows you to create, modify or view information, and output it to something, such as monitor or printer. The slightly longer explanation is that a computer is a collection of hardware and software that lets you create, modify or view information using input devices such as the keyboard and mouse, through the use of software programs, such as the operating system and application programs like Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer and others. You output the information to your monitor for viewing, or to a printer, or save it to a file so that you or others can do so later. One the next few pages we will look at some basics of hardware and software, then look at each in a little more depth.