Microsoft Windows: The End of "My" in "My Computer"

redsolar · May 30, 2005, 05:57 PM

Those folders on your Windows desktop will still be yours -- but in the future you'll need to figure that out on your own.

Ending a longstanding tradition, Microsoft Corp. plans to stop using the word "my" as the default prefix for such folders as "My Documents," "My Music," "My Pictures" and others along those lines. Starting in the next Windows version, due out next year, folders will be known simply as "Documents," "Music," and so on.

With any other product, such a minor change probably wouldn't even be noticed. But the Microsoft operating system runs on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers, and its persistent use of the word has been one of its most conspicuous characteristics -- helping to fuel widespread use of the "my" prefix in the technology industry.

Granted, computer users might not celebrate the change as much as they did the retirement of Microsoft's unpopular "Clippy" animated assistant. But some experts in the language of technology clearly won't be sorry to see "my" disappear from the next Windows version.

The practice was an artificial attempt to create a personal connection between people and their computers -- "to capture the loyalty of an egocentric population," said Naomi Baron, linguistics professor at American University in Washington, D.C.
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Read More @ SeattlePI
Source: Neowin.Net

The_Neon_Cowboy · May 30, 2005, 06:04 PM

Maybe it not yours any more becouse its the goverments.
Remember MS in now "contracted" working closely with goverment "intelligence". Helping with cyber crimes and all that.

jkayca2 · May 30, 2005, 06:54 PM

No more "My Documents", "My Pictures", "My Music" and goodness gracious no more "My P()rn" folder!!!

nForcer · May 30, 2005, 08:00 PM

Heh, Apple used "MacintoshHD" for many years. They didn't even give you the impression it was yours! The flat out told you who's drive it was! :P

BWX · May 30, 2005, 11:02 PM

Rename it..

riles9262 · May 30, 2005, 11:47 PM

I'll be lost without it...how will I ever know what's mine anymore?

May 30, 2005, 05:57 PM	#1
redsolar Off duty Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Las Vegas, USA Posts: 1,242 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Microsoft Windows: The End of "My" in "My Computer" Those folders on your Windows desktop will still be yours -- but in the future you'll need to figure that out on your own. Ending a longstanding tradition, Microsoft Corp. plans to stop using the word "my" as the default prefix for such folders as "My Documents," "My Music," "My Pictures" and others along those lines. Starting in the next Windows version, due out next year, folders will be known simply as "Documents," "Music," and so on. With any other product, such a minor change probably wouldn't even be noticed. But the Microsoft operating system runs on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers, and its persistent use of the word has been one of its most conspicuous characteristics -- helping to fuel widespread use of the "my" prefix in the technology industry. Granted, computer users might not celebrate the change as much as they did the retirement of Microsoft's unpopular "Clippy" animated assistant. But some experts in the language of technology clearly won't be sorry to see "my" disappear from the next Windows version. The practice was an artificial attempt to create a personal connection between people and their computers -- "to capture the loyalty of an egocentric population," said Naomi Baron, linguistics professor at American University in Washington, D.C. ______________________________ Read More @ SeattlePI Source: Neowin.Net __________________ Real_Men_Do_Not_Use_Space_Bar Main rig: Intel Core i7 930 @ 4.0 Ghz \| Corsair H50 Push/Pull \| 12GB OCZ DDR3 \| ASUS Radeon HD 5850 \| 3x 1TB Samsung F3 RAID5 on Dell PERC 5i SAS + 1TB Hitachi \| MSI X58 Pro-e \| 850W Antec Truepower Quattro \| RocketFish by Lian Li Full Tower Case \| Gateway XHD3000 30" LCD \| Dell 2408WFP 24" LCD \| Dell 2407WFP 24" LCD \| Logitech Z-5500 Speakers \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Laptop: Samsung x360-34P \| Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4 GHz \| 4GB DDR3 \| 128GB Samsung SSD \| Intel 4500M w/ HDMI \| WiFi \| Bluetooth \| 13.3" WLED 1280x800 \| Windows 7 Professional x64

May 30, 2005, 06:04 PM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Maybe it not yours any more becouse its the goverments. Remember MS in now "contracted" working closely with goverment "intelligence". Helping with cyber crimes and all that. __________________ Last edited by The_Neon_Cowboy; May 31, 2005 at 09:01 AM.

May 30, 2005, 06:54 PM	#3
jkayca2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 379 Rep Power: 0	No more "My Documents", "My Pictures", "My Music" and goodness gracious no more "My P()rn" folder!!! __________________ [color=Blue]PNY Verto GeFORCE 6800GT AGP 256MB DDR3 - 1 GHz Win XP Pro (SP 2) - Directx 9.0c Intel P4 2.8C GHz - Abit IS7 Mobo 2x512 + 2x1024 MB PC 3200 DDR WD 74 GB Raptor + WD 120 GB HD with 8 MB Cache Hercules Gamesurround Fortissmo 7.1 Logitech Z5500 Speaker System Leadtek WinFast TV 2000 XP Deluxe LG GSA-4160B DVD Burner Logitech LX700 Keyb, mouse combo Mitsubishi DiamondPro 2070SB 22" CRT[/color]

May 30, 2005, 11:02 PM	#5
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,665 Rep Power: 109 System Specs	Rename it.. __________________

May 30, 2005, 11:47 PM	#6
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,842 Rep Power: 70 System Specs	I'll be lost without it...how will I ever know what's mine anymore? __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.

May 30, 2005, 08:00 PM	#4
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Heh, Apple used "MacintoshHD" for many years. They didn't even give you the impression it was yours! The flat out told you who's drive it was! :P