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Longhorn Drops 'My' Prefixes

ryanjm writes "Microsoft has decided to drop the "my" prefixes for Longhorn. Instead of "My Computer," it will be just just plain simple "Computer". "

12 of 1,037 comments (clear)

  1. Annoying inconsistancy of Windows document folders by SuperKendall · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have to say that I always founf it very annoying how Windows constantly seems to shift where they think documents should go with each release, at one point being under the Windows directory...

    Hopefully this sigals the last time these folders chage location/name. Then perhaps people would start to use them. I always use the default Documents/Music/Pictures folders on OS X but over the years I have avoided using the Windows equivilent because I knew it would shift and I'd have to learn the new placement again.

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  2. Oh the irony by suso · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What's funny about this is that the same people who needed to be coaxed into using a computer by prefixing common icons with "My" will now further be confused because they will think that the folder is somehow different in its function.

    "But that's not *my* Videos, it must be someone elses. Doesn't that have to do with it being multi-user?"

  3. Re:My My... by timeOday · · Score: 2, Insightful
    You don't like the change away from "My"?

    I do. "My" annoyed me from the first time I saw Windows 95. "My" before everything is childish, superfluous, and not necessarily factual.

  4. Re:lemme get this straight... by Curtman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    so it's no longer "My computer"?

    Shameful how they have to copy their ideas from Gnome isn't it? ;)

  5. Re:Brilliant! Simply brilliant! by swv3752 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The GNOME and KDE folks will file a patent on calling a desktop icon "Computer" and sue Microsoft. Now that would be funny.

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  6. My Computer, Your Computer by DanielMarkham · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Maybe they should just name it "your computer"

    After all, it IS your computer, right?

    This change will obviously be the heart of longhorn. All the other features they've thrown out by now (grin)

    Is it just me, or does this sound like a PR unit leaking little bits of stuff over the months to the press in an effort to keep Longhorn in the news? I imagine we'll be hearing more little "gems" like this as the year proceeds.

  7. So they think users have graduated from preschool by ecloud · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's what "my this" and "my that" always reminded me of. The icons might has well have looked like crayon sketches, too.

  8. Re:Annoying inconsistancy of Windows document fold by DCMonkey · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yeah, three times in 20 years. Those bastards.

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    DCMonkey
  9. no spaces by m85476585 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think we should try to eliminate spaces from standard directories (program files, my ...) In case an old program needs to get to one. Microsoft probably isn't concerned with backwards compatibility in Longhorn. Every program will have to be rewritten.

  10. Re:lemme get this straight... by tek.net-ium · · Score: 2, Insightful
    We're still dealing with this sort of short-sightedness. Instead of just turning the damn things off, or restricting access, we have firewalls.
    I know this is slashdot, but have you compared the free competion? Like the standard Unix network file system, NFS? It strictly depends on a secure network in order to be secure. All you have to do is claim that you're UID (insert number here) and you have full access to someone's files! Even with a firewall, port security and root squashing, it's essentially a three-step process to owning most UNIX networks deploying NFS3 if you have physical access:
    1. Get the IP and MAC of the host you want to emulate.
    2. Set the IP and MAC of your notebook to this host. Connect the cable to your notebook.
    3. Mount nfs shares, and change your UID.
    Granted, things like NFS4 and AFS can require authentication for access, but the number of sites using these file systems seems rather small, and NFS4 is a rather recent development. Windows got their shit together first and the free OS's are just catching up now.
  11. Re:Computers for Adults by CAIMLAS · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You're kidding, right? It's not like that, at all.

    What you've basically described is MacOS 7 or so. Simple, to the point, and nothing but functional. There are simply too many options on computers for modern users (I know; I do phone tech support, and you would not believe how many people are confused by the simplest of computer/Windows operational things like "Shutting down", "restarting", or "right clicking").

    If cars were designed to the complexity of Windows, you would have three different ways to turn on the windshield wipers and turn signals. Sometimes they would share the same lever and switch, sometimes they would not. One button would need to be pushed and held, while the other would need to only be pushed. There would be two omnidirectional "joysticks" - one to operate the windows, and the other one to adjust the heat.

    What MS needs to do is create an entirely new Windows design. It's been my experience that over 90% of Windows users still can't multitask. When they are multitasking, it's with no more than two - maybe three - windows.

    A truly functional "consumer computer" which would not irritate the piss out of computer folks of all stripes would:
    - have no "system tray". There would be an "information bar" at the border of the screen which
    - have every application automatically be fullscreen. Users are constantly getting confused about which window is active.
    - all dialog windows which open would not be able to open a subsequent 'sub' dialog window. It would all have to be contained within a single window.
    - simplify the user's file management experience. There is only one directory or path which they can view. Double-clicking would be the operative means of opening; single clicking would open up a graphical side-panel containing a small list of file manipulation options (copy, delete, move, rename).

    Anyway, I could go on and on... but all the modern premutations of operating systems are still too difficult for most people to use. Most people just want to get "work" done: write a letter, surf the internet, chat with friends. All of the mainstream consumer GUIs are designed from the perspective of "one size fits all". Not a good design ethic; just imagine what kind of shit any given auto maker would be in if the interiors of all their vehicles were identical. They'd be out of business within a year.

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  12. A boon for Cygwin users by tezza · · Score: 2, Insightful
    No more

    cd /cygdrive/c/Documents\ and\ Settings/User/My\ Documents

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