Your computer is called “your computer”?
For those familiar with the history of Windows, “My Computer” must be impressive. It is the gateway to access the files on the computer’s hard drive and the entry point for the Resource Manager. However, the classic “My Computer” has been renamed to “This PC” for over a decade. Why is “My Computer” no longer called “My Computer”? Let’s take a look at the past and present of “My Computer.”
At the end of 1985, Microsoft released the earliest Windows 1.x operating system. Although it was not very successful, it was impressive. Windows 1.x and 2.x were simple enough, and file management was completed in the MS-DOS Executive window. It can be called the earliest form of “My Computer.” Additionally, there was no Chinese version of the Windows system during this period.
In 1990, the more mature Windows 3.x series was born, introducing a new set of icons and the File Manager component. From the appearance, the icon of the File Manager was already similar to the traditional image of “My Computer.”
Usually, in the early operating systems, T or C referred to traditional Chinese, and P referred to simplified Chinese. However, many early operating systems first launched the traditional Chinese version before the simplified Chinese version, so they would have traditional Chinese first and then simplified Chinese.
Microsoft added a traditional Chinese version in the Windows 3.0a release. The term “File Manager” in the traditional Chinese version completely confirms this statement.
Following this was the simplified Chinese version of Windows 3.x. “File Manager” was renamed to “File Explorer,” which was highly compatible with the File Manager’s original intent.
In 1995, alongside a grand release, Bill Gates launched the revolutionary Windows 95 operating system. Windows 95 was revolutionary; the system interface underwent a huge change, and “File Manager” was also changed to “My Computer,” occupying the first position in the upper left corner of the screen.
After that, in Windows NT, Windows 98, 2000, ME, as well as the widely used Windows XP, the name “My Computer” has been preserved. However, the first position in the upper left corner of the screen has changed from time to time, sometimes “My Documents” is default.
In 2006, Vista brought a brand new user experience, and desktop icons and names also got updated.
Surprisingly, in a complete installation of Windows Vista or Windows 7 systems, “My Computer” can no longer be found. At the same time, many new categories such as “Documents,” “Pictures,” “Music,” and “Games” were added to the Start menu. Of course, there’s also an option called “Computer,” and “Computer” became the substitute for “My Computer.”
Compared to “My Computer,” the name “Computer” is more professional and adapts to the situation of multiple people sharing a computer. In a sense, it reduces the possibility of a user deleting files that do not belong to them.
After Windows 8, “Computer” was renamed “This Computer.” Compared to “Computer,” “This Computer” is more attention-grabbing. But in the workplace, saying four words obviously takes more time and seems to attract more attention, which… Windows 10 and 11 were then changed to the more concise “This PC.”
So, among “File Explorer,” “My Computer,” “Computer,” “This Computer,” and “This PC,” which one do you like the most?
Is it “My Computer,” by any chance?