“Add/Remove Programs”, I mean “Programs and Features” June 15, 2007
Posted by Jaison Green in Annoyances, Fixes, Hacks.trackback
Let’s kick this off with something tame.
In Vista’s classic control panel view, Microsoft decided to rename “Add/Remove Programs” to “Programs and Features”. I would like to know how renaming this benefits me at all. Ever since the introduction of Windows 95 we have been using “Add/Remove Programs” to uninstall applications.
This leads me to a primary problem I see with Vista. A lot of changes seem to have been made “just for the heck of it”. We will get into that more in some of the “annoyances” to comes.
GlenC - totally! The problem for me is that there are a lot of paths that I have mentally memorized in terms of labels. Start > Control Panel > Add Remove Programs. This has become so ingrained in my psyche that every single god damned time I open the control panel and don’t find Add/Remove Programs I am confused. This stupid simple little act now requires actual thought. AARGH.
Think about it this way. When you want to scratch your ass, you just do. You don’t have to think about every little muscle that you have to move and in what order. Your brain says “ass itches - scratch” and your hand does. What if you got a nice new arm upgrade that changed all the muscle names and electrical impulses expected. Now every time you want to scratch your ass you have to think about every goddamn movement it takes to get your hand there.
Luckily, this is easily changed!
<Warning, registry edit ahead>
Navigate to: “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}”
Open key: “LocalizedString”
Change this key from “@C:\Windows\system32\appwiz.cpl,-159” to “Add or Remove Programs“. Close your registry editor and you should see this change immediately in your control panel.
</Warning, registry edit ahead>
Let me play Microsoft’s advocate.
Firstly, the title “Add/Remove Programs” is an action, not a category - and thus inconsistent with the other items in the control panel. “Network Settings” isn’t called “Change IP Address” (though that is it’s primary use).
Additionally, the “Add/Remove Programs” title has been a misnomer for last several versions of Windows. Where do I go to remove or modify or reinstall a program? Where do you change the installed features of Windows? Changing the title from an action to a category allows this function to encompass more features and make those features easier to find for inexperienced users.
Yes, old habits do die hard, but I submit that this change was justified.
Oh boy here we go
Misnomer or not, the term Add/Remove Programs is what everyone who uses a PC for the last 12 years has become used to. This feels like a decision that was made in a black box without any regard to the impact on the end user.
In addition, I would argue that Add/Remove Programs is a more descriptive name than Programs and Features. The Programs part is acurate, but what Features? Features of Windows? Does that include display features and drivers? Does it include printer settings? Anything specific to Vista like sidebar?? No. The word Features is so broad that it doesn’t end up desribing anything useful. Even Windows components are really Programs, so again, let’s just stick with what we’ve all become used to.
“Programs and Features” is really only an issue when you switch to “classic” view.
So now with that in mind, “classic” view would indicate that I should be seeing the same items I have been seeing in the control panel for the last 12 years.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Don’t even get me started on classic vs. standard view. I can’t find a damn thing in that standard view. I know exactly what I am looking for, but I just sit there and stare for 5 minutes wondering where it might be filed under. Of course I could just be dim witted…
[...] the name of something which has been used for quite a while is a very bad idea. Just like the story of Microsoft which for no reason decided to change the all-familiar “Add/Remove [...]
I honestly think you guys are too resistant to change. Like it or not, this doesn’t matter one bit. I was lost at first, but found Programs and Features and got used to in under a week. Even if it was changed for the hell of it, who cares? Let them change it. The OS is still superior to XP.
I do however agree with the classic view vs. the standard view. Standard view is stupid and nooblets who just got on a computer for the first time. Classic view ftw.
thanks so much.
this is way better than programs and applications
haha