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Subject:Re: An observation -- what you're used to From:marijane -at- computer -dot- org To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 5 May 2005 09:32:19 -0700 (PDT)
On Thu, 5 May 2005, Downing, David wrote:
> I wanted to share an anecdote that I think is relevant to the subject of
> what makes for clear technical communication. I just got a new PC at
> work, with a newer version of Windows than I'd been suing. At first, I
> couldn't find the "Minimize all windows" command, but then I discovered
> it had been reworded as "Show the desktop." Well, the intention was
> good -- to replace jargon with normal conversational English -- but it
> didn't help ME because I was USED to the older command. So if people
> are used to a command, message, etc., being worded a certain way,
> changing it for the better may not always be for the better.
I don't remember where "Minimize All" was in older versions of Windows,
but I know it still exists today in Windows XP as the Windows+M keyboard
shortcut. "Show Desktop" actually goes a bit further than "Minimize All".
Windows guru Raymond Chen explains the difference at his blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2004/05/27/143042.aspx
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