Do we really need the [tag:hardware] and [tag:software] tags?

Looking at the tags into detail:

 - They **don't group all the questions** that should belong to them.
 - Their **statistics don't make sense**, they are both *less popular* than [tag:command-line].
 - They have **no additional value when searching**, as you would look for more specific things.

Looking at the questions tagged into detail:

 - It's **clear from the other tags and title** if the question is about [tag:hardware] or [tag:software].
 - It's **very weird** to add [tag:software] next to [tag:windows-7] or [tag:hardware] to [tag:cpu].

To me, [tag:hardware] and [tag:software] [**are meta tags**](http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2010/08/the-death-of-meta-tags/):

Let's check:

1. **If the tag can’t work as the only tag on a question, it’s probably a meta-tag.**

   If a question was tagged software, we have to wonder about *what software*. **Check!**

   If a question was tagged hardware, we have to wonder about *what hardware*. **Check!**

2. **If the tag commonly means different things to different people, it’s probably a meta-tag.**

   *What software* are you thinking about? Or *what hardware*? **Check!**

So, can the [tag:hardware] and [tag:software] tags be obliterated?

— Originated from: [Area 51 - Computer Hardware Proposal Discussion](http://discuss.area51.stackexchange.com/questions/21/what-does-computer-hardware-add-that-isnt-already-available-on-super-user/104#104), [Chat Discussion](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/118/conversation/hardware-and-software) & Tagging.