5 ms·

They took a common English word and stole it's mindshare. Thanks a lot!

by djmips 3y ago

gjvc 3y ago
"took a common English word and stole its mindshare" -- Thank you! I've been struggling to express what Microsoft did by calling their operating system "Windows". (I always called it "hijacking the word", but I prefer "stole its mindshare".)
- anon373839 3y ago
  Huh. This makes me realize I have no association between windows and Windows. Neither one makes me think of the other at all.
  - gjvc 3y ago
    have you no visual imagination whatsoever? https://www.deviantart.com/dos-commander/art/Microsoft-Windows-3-11-Logo-99966270 https://www.deviantart.com/dos-commander/art/Microsoft-Windo...
    - anon373839 3y ago
      I’m aware of the intended brand association, thanks. It just didn’t work on me.
      - gjvc 3y ago
        A complete zero? What other brand associations are you immune to?
        dinkleberg 3y ago
        It is all about context. When I’m thinking about physical windows, I don’t think at all about Microsoft. I saw something the other day that the word “run” has like 600 different definitions, and yet we are able to understand it just fine based on context. When someone runs for office, I don’t think about them physically running. Same with my server running my application. My brain doesn’t get confused because my computer doesn’t have legs!
  - xcxcx 3y ago
    Windows stole my Windoze mindshare
  - petee 3y ago
    Funny how people's brains are wired different; to me, when I open/close/drag an "application window", the association is clearly as a viewport. Though I guess they could have called it 'Doors' and my brain would stretch to make it work hah
    - anon373839 3y ago
      I think because of how application windows are opaque and stackable, the connection to physical or even metaphoric windows (“windows to the soul”) seems misplaced to me.
- gostsamo 3y ago
  not to talk about what some companies are doing with some common fruits.
  - gjvc 3y ago
    apple and blackberry taste nice with custard.
- ghaff 3y ago
  Of course, windowing systems long predated Windows. I guess it's a logical name--never really thought about it--but I never had a particular association between computer windowing systems and the windows in my house.
  - gjvc 3y ago
    You may not have, but non-computerists likely did.
chpatrick 3y ago
You wouldn't steal a mindshare.
ftxbro 3y ago
You got downvoted into the ground but I think it's true. Personally I don't think companies should be allowed to do this. Every technical term used in AI is now also the name of some AI company. Even words like Windows and Stripe and Square I mean come on.

They took a common English word and stole it's mindshare. Thanks a lot!

by djmips 3y ago

They took a common English word and stole it's mindshare. Thanks a lot!

gjvc 3y ago

"took a common English word and stole its mindshare" -- Thank you! I've been struggling to express what Microsoft did by calling their operating system "Windows". (I always called it "hijacking the word", but I prefer "stole its mindshare".)

anon373839 3y ago
Huh. This makes me realize I have no association between windows and Windows. Neither one makes me think of the other at all.
- gjvc 3y ago
  have you no visual imagination whatsoever? https://www.deviantart.com/dos-commander/art/Microsoft-Windows-3-11-Logo-99966270 https://www.deviantart.com/dos-commander/art/Microsoft-Windo...
  - anon373839 3y ago
    I’m aware of the intended brand association, thanks. It just didn’t work on me.
    - gjvc 3y ago
      A complete zero? What other brand associations are you immune to?
      - dinkleberg 3y ago
        It is all about context. When I’m thinking about physical windows, I don’t think at all about Microsoft. I saw something the other day that the word “run” has like 600 different definitions, and yet we are able to understand it just fine based on context. When someone runs for office, I don’t think about them physically running. Same with my server running my application. My brain doesn’t get confused because my computer doesn’t have legs!
- xcxcx 3y ago
  Windows stole my Windoze mindshare
- petee 3y ago
  Funny how people's brains are wired different; to me, when I open/close/drag an "application window", the association is clearly as a viewport. Though I guess they could have called it 'Doors' and my brain would stretch to make it work hah
  - anon373839 3y ago
    I think because of how application windows are opaque and stackable, the connection to physical or even metaphoric windows (“windows to the soul”) seems misplaced to me.
gostsamo 3y ago
not to talk about what some companies are doing with some common fruits.
- gjvc 3y ago
  apple and blackberry taste nice with custard.
ghaff 3y ago
Of course, windowing systems long predated Windows. I guess it's a logical name--never really thought about it--but I never had a particular association between computer windowing systems and the windows in my house.
- gjvc 3y ago
  You may not have, but non-computerists likely did.

chpatrick 3y ago

You wouldn't steal a mindshare.

ftxbro 3y ago

You got downvoted into the ground but I think it's true. Personally I don't think companies should be allowed to do this. Every technical term used in AI is now also the name of some AI company. Even words like Windows and Stripe and Square I mean come on.