Please stop using the term "PC" to mean "Windows".

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Snackiz Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:16am

Please stop using the term "PC" to mean "Windows".

PC is a hardware platform. Today, all operating systems supported by Steam runs on PC:s.

It starts getting a bit silly when searching in the store you can choose to filter by Operating System and the options are Any OS, Steam Play, PC, Mac and Linux. Please use "Win" or "Windows" instead.

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Showing 1-15 of 27 comments

Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:22am

That'll only confuse the casual audience, better to just call it PC like the mainstream media has done for the last decade.

Last edited by Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel; Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:22am

Seraphita Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:22am

Except I doubt it stops today since Mac is absolute crap for games and Linux is a weird name. Most people with a gaming computer will have Windows, hence PC. Not that it really matters in the end...

Spawn of Totoro Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:26am

As correct as you are, it won't happen.

Just like people keep refering to HDD space as "memory" instead of storage space.

PC has a long history of refering to a Windows based system. So long so that everyone knows what you mean by it.

Besides. Apple want's to distance its self from Windows as much as possible, so they wouldn't want to be called a "PC" manufacturer.They like people to think the hardware in their computers is some how diffrent.

Also, PC being Personal Computer was more accurate at the time it was used since Apple/MAC was too expensive and geared more to the professional while other OS's were geared more to data bases and other corporation servers. Windows based PC's (DOS) was more focused on home computing and would fall in line with PC then any other OS (back then).

Things have changed, but the term is still in use as is. Can't realy change a term that has been along for so long.

Snackiz Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:34am

Originally posted by The Rolling Cheese:
That'll only confuse the casual audience, better to just call it PC like the mainstream media has done for the last decade.

I'd say more people know that they're running Windows as it says so when the computer starts.

Snackiz Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:38am

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
Just like people keep refering to HDD space as "memory" instead of storage space.

But you never see a program referring to it as "memory". Usually, it's just called "free space"

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
Apple want's to distance its self from Windows as much as possible, so they wouldn't want to be called a "PC" manufacturer.

I'm not proposing the use of the name "PC" to refer to a mac, Just to start calling Windows Windows.

tmwfte Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:44am

Originally posted by Snackiz:
I'd say more people know that they're running Windows as it says so when the computer starts.

You'd be surprised. Having worked IT, many people think that their operating system is called Microsoft and that their office suite is Windows. Although I don't like pandering to the lowest common denominator, I agree that changing it to Windows would undoubtedly confuse some people.

"But I have a PC, do Steam games run on a PC?"
"You have Windows."
"No, I don't. That Mac commercial said I have a PC."

Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel Jan 20, 2013 @ 9:45am

Originally posted by tmwfte:
Originally posted by Snackiz:
I'd say more people know that they're running Windows as it says so when the computer starts.

You'd be surprised. Having worked IT, many people think that their operating system is called Microsoft and that their office suite is Windows. Although I don't like pandering to the lowest common denominator, I agree that changing it to Windows would undoubtedly confuse some people.

"But I have a PC, do Steam games run on a PC?"
"You have Windows."
"No, I don't. That Mac commercial said I have a PC."

This is accurate.

Tito Shivan Jan 20, 2013 @ 10:37am

Originally posted by tmwfte:
You'd be surprised. Having worked IT, many people think that their operating system is called Microsoft and that their office suite is Windows.

I had an angry user once that swore by God his OS was Windows 97.

People already mess stuff enough as to start changing names...

Spawn of Totoro Jan 20, 2013 @ 3:44pm

Originally posted by Snackiz:
But you never see a program referring to it as "memory". Usually, it's just called "free space"

Look through the suggestion thread. How many look at system requirements here. How many say they want steam to decide if they can play a game.

Originally posted by Snackiz:
I'm not proposing the use of the name "PC" to refer to a mac, Just to start calling Windows Windows.

PC has become synonymous with a Windows based PC. You can't as a company to change what millions already refer to it as. That won't happen.

I don't agree with people calling cheaters "hackers", but I'm not going to try and ask many thousands of companies to change that. I'm going to understand the new "slang" deffinition and adapt to it.

It is what it is and it won't change. I can think of many words that are used how they are not intennded and/or the definition has changed to the point where it is can only mean that. The 1890's word for "Happy, Joyfull, Lively" for example, has a far worse definition these days.

Last edited by Spawn of Totoro; Jan 20, 2013 @ 3:44pm

DarkCrystalMethod Jan 20, 2013 @ 4:31pm

I occassionally hear about people having problems with their Microsoft Office Operating System. They need help but sometimes I can't stop laughing.

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Snackiz Jan 20, 2013 @ 4:48pm

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
Look through the suggestion thread. How many look at system requirements here. How many say they want steam to decide if they can play a game.

That would be a great feature.

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
PC has become synonymous with a Windows based PC. You can't as a company to change what millions already refer to it as. That won't happen.

I don't agree with people calling cheaters "hackers", but I'm not going to try and ask many thousands of companies to change that. I'm going to understand the new "slang" deffinition and adapt to it.

You don't have to change how others use it, just change your own usage of the word, since you say that they're synonymous, just start using the other, more correct word for it.

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Snackiz Jan 20, 2013 @ 4:49pm

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
I occassionally hear about people having problems with their Microsoft Office Operating System. They need help but sometimes I can't stop laughing.

And then you have to tell them that the computer is not just the little TV thingy on top of the "hard drive". What does this have to do with the subject at hand?

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CptBuckaroo Jan 20, 2013 @ 5:03pm

Windows is the only OS where you have to press start to shutdown your computer!!

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Spawn of Totoro Jan 20, 2013 @ 5:05pm

Originally posted by Snackiz:
You don't have to change how others use it, just change your own usage of the word, since you say that they're synonymous, just start using the other, more correct word for it.

Or you could do so. Since almost everyone else in the world already uses PC. Neither is in-correct or more correct then the other. You seem to be the only one who has an issue with this.

Originally posted by Snackiz:
That would be a great feature.

No, it wouldn't. People would say Steam has a responsibility to the buyer if the game doesn't work. As stated in those threads just comparing system requirements does not work and an automated system to do so is highly flawed.

It would also encourage others to keep calling a windows based system a PC.
Ignorance of ones own system, let alone general computer knowledge, would just add to it.

Last edited by Spawn of Totoro; Jan 20, 2013 @ 5:17pm

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