Hardware generally will start with desktop support and help desk type work. The general career parth would be from a desktop support path into more involved support like server and infastructure.
Software generally will start with very simple coding. Mostly probably doing application documentation and comments. That evolves into application development and implimentation. Eventually doing probably less coding and more architecture, planning, implimentation, and consultation.
Those are very very very general terms. Every company is different, and going one route doesn't mean you can't jump back to the other, but generally speaking if you aren't sure which way to go, hardware or software these two examples would give you an idea of where those paths go.
Go with what you like. Both career paths have their positives and negatives, and both are sure to have huge futures down the road. Currently i'm going the hardware route, but i've always enjoyed programming (original major) and may try to get into programming down the road. What are you most pasionate about right now? At that point go into that field IMO.