A computer is an electronic device that processes raw data into information. It accepts data as input, processes it based on programmed instructions, and produces output. Computers have advantages like increased productivity and ability to store vast amounts of data, but also disadvantages like potential privacy loss and health issues from excessive use. Common applications include MS Word for creating documents, MS Excel for working with numerical data in spreadsheets, and MS PowerPoint for making presentations. These applications allow formatting of text, inserting tables and images, mail merging, and other functions.