> I have never understood Microsoft changing things from one release to
> another. In the beginning extensions were IIRC always visible.
>
> Every time I configure a computer I have to spend a lot of time undoing
> the initial settings so my users can get their work done!
Even though I completely agree with you and detest Microsoft's decisions in
these matters, here are the basic reasons:
Computers are becoming more and more available for use amongst
non-tech-savy individuals. Individuals who previously did not have to work
with computers may now have to use them in their job for whatever reason.
Microsoft would make less money if so called non-user-friendly attributes
remained in their operating system. Consider:
A potential computer user looks at the listing in a folder. Not quite
understanding why things look the way they do, not quite understanding how
these so called folders and files are supposed to look like the old paper
file cabinet systems that they are used to.
He sees these files with periods and strange letters. What do they mean? A
file extension? What?! I don't get it, he says. You explain that the letters
tell Windows which program is supposed to open the file. That doesn't make
sense to him. He wonders why Windows can't just see that this is a
spreadsheet, I mean look at it. It's obviously a spreadsheet! So to
circumvent this confusion they hide the file extensions.
Consider some other UI changes. The places bar, for example. Most programs
save documents in My Documents. So where is it? Most people don't realize
where they are. The file cabinets that they knew had folders yes, but never
folders within folders. So Microsoft, in order to aid the new computer user
provided a flattened view so that they could more easily find and understand
where they are.
Granted, all of these are just visual sugar and are completely worthless.
But they have provided Microsoft with much money because more useless people
can use computers. It is because these people do not wish to learn, do not
have the capacity, or just plain would rather pay through their teeth. They
would rather have Microsoft make obfuscate things, to make it "easier" for
them, than to try to understand themselves.
JS
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