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[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 weeks ago

Didn’t “My Computer” exist since like Windows 95 or so?

Also back when it was first introduced I heard some explanation that people were expected to rename it using their actual name. So something like “Joe’s Computer.” Though I don’t think anyone really did that in practice, which just resulted in everyone always having the “My Computer” icon on their windows desktop and it became the norm.

[-] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yes, Win95 called it My Computer, but at the time it was maybe the only GUI to do that. I remember the trend really kicked off in the early aughts with MySimon and their advertising campaign. Then all of a sudden every header in the OS got the word "My" tacked on.

[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

What do you mean header in the OS? Like .h files? I haven’t seen this.

[-] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

No like textual headers of windows and settings sections. Shit like "My Settings".

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago
[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago

I would think not. But I’m a tech illiterate Linux user who hasn’t used windows in 20+ years.

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Looks like it's coupled with the computers hostname now. Configured with the Run command sysdm.cpl. Classic new Windows.

[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

I kind of think this might have all been the original vision of some small group of engineers. Like on the network you might see “Joe’s Computer” and “Jane’s Computer” and “Bob’s Printer”. But that vision all got lost in the larger Microsoft macrocosm between how they handle host names and networking and their SMB protocol, and their installers not properly renaming that stupid desktop icon. And ultimately we ended up with the ubiquitous My Computer everywhere.

[-] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I’m a tech illiterate Linux user

My brain:

[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

Someone else posted that somewhere in this thread. I’m on my phone and can’t be bothered to look it up.

[-] relativestranger@feddit.nl 2 points 2 weeks ago

you can actually still do that! enable the desktop icon for 'computer' in settings->personalisation->themes->desktop icon settings, then go to that icon on the desktop and right click it and rename. although i have gotten used to win11's 'user files' one with quick access and recent and use that one instead---when it works, anyway (right now it is not)

[-] marcos@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Windows is more than a decade older than Windows 95.

[-] jaybone@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago

But I didn’t think previous versions had the My Computer icon. I could be wrong, but that was certainly when I started noticing it.

this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2026
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