Application Software
The second major category of software is application software. Application software is, essentially, software that allows the
user to accomplish some goal or purpose. For example, if you have to write a paper, you might use the applicationsoftware
program Microsoft Word. If you want to listen to music, you might use iTunes. To surf the web, you might use Internet
Explorer or Firefox. Even a computer game could be considered application software.
VisiCalc running on an Apple II. (Public
Domain)
When a new type of digital device is invented, there are generally a small group of technology enthusiasts who will purchase it
just for the joy of figuring out how it works. However, for most of us, until a device can actually do something useful we are
not going to spend our hardearned
money on it. A “killer” application is one that becomes so essential that large numbers of
people will buy a device just to run that application. For the personal computer, the killer application was the spreadsheet. In
1979, VisiCalc, the first personalcomputer
spreadsheet package, was introduced. It was an immediate hit and drove sales of
the Apple II. It also solidified the value of the personal computer beyond the relatively small circle of technology geeks.
The “Killer” App
Productivity Software
Microsoft soon found itself with the dominant personalcomputer
operating system for businesses. As the networked
personal computer began to replace the mainframe computer as the primary way of computing inside businesses, it became
essential for Microsoft to give businesses the ability to administer and secure their networks. Microsoft developed businesslevel
server products to go along with their personal computer products, thereby providing a complete business solution. And so now,
the saying goes: “No one ever got fired for buying Microsoft