> What's the difference between hardware and software?

|I have a serious question that I have been kinda embarrassed to ask, but
|what the hell, here goes...
|What the heck is "firmware"????



Somewhat obscene joke answer follows [don't say I didn't warn you]


XXXIT'SXWHATXMALEXSOFTWAREXTURNSXINTOXWHENXINXCLOSEXPROXIMITYXTOXXXXXX
XXXFEMALEXSOFTWAREXINXPREPARATIONXFORXHARDWARE/SOFTWAREXINTERFACINGXXX