Deep Thoughts, by HellFish

[HellFish]

I was just thinking today; most programs use a little 3.5" floppy disk icon to represent "Save" in the application's toolbar. When do you think companies will drop this and use a different picture? Or, will it never change? Will, we always be reminded of or little obsolete friend?

[EzyStvy]

Hope you didn't hurt yourself thinking this one up :eek: (just kidding :) )

I would guess if it when it changes it'll be years away when the floppy really is obsolete.

This does kind or remind me about many companies changing their user manuals to NOT include the phrase: "Press any key."

[HellFish]

LOL, no I'm ok. I was just editing some video with Camtasia studio and clicked on the icon to save and it got me to thinking.

I know that most of the people that call our office for tech support would have no clue what to do if there was say a pic of a CD there instead of a floppy.

I can hear it now, "But I don't have a CD player on here; is that the CD-ROM?" "I don't want to save my work as a music file?" "Since when is Word able to burn CD's?" I could think of a million.

[EzyStvy]

The CD icon would kill my clients too.

They can't understand why it matters that their ISP is down when my company is hosting their sql database. The problem has to be on my end that they can't connect.

[Stryker]

I was just thinking today; most programs use a little 3.5" floppy disk icon to represent "Save" in the application's toolbar. When do you think companies will drop this and use a different picture? Or, will it never change? Will, we always be reminded of or little obsolete friend?
It is quite possible that you are the first person to ever think of this, so probably not for a while. :D :p

[fudtone]

One of the systems here uses that disk. It has been a popular option for many years and I still point it out to people everyday that say "oh I didn't know what that was"....how about a button that says "SAVE".

[mairving]

Plenty of others that are antiquated or make no sense.

Why do they use an envelope for email? Do you actually put it in an envelope.

Why do the use a form feed printer for print? Can't we get a laser printer here.

Why do they use a magnifying glass for search? Shouldn't the magnifying glass be for magnifying.

[mc2phat]

I actually gave the magnifying glass=search some thought awhile ago. The best I could come up with was the image of Sherlock Holmes "searching" for clues with a magnifying glass, thus it carried over.

[Stryker]

I actually gave the magnifying glass=search some thought awhile ago. The best I could come up with was the image of Sherlock Holmes "searching" for clues with a magnifying glass, thus it carried over.
I prefer Adobe's search button (or at least in Adobe Acrobat anyway). It's a pair of binoculars. :D

[mattg2k4]

You know I just was thinking about the common "save file" icon today and thinking about how it's funny we still use that same one, and now I see this thread.

I don't think it will go away any time soon, it's too ingrained in everybody's mind by now.

[Panama Red]

And then there's the contradicting phrase "floppy disk". Why is it used to describe a piece of stiff plastic? Used to be they were called "diskettes" and "floppies" were 5.25 inches and bendable. (Oops! I'm showing my age again.) At that time there were no "PC's" either. PC was an acronym for Programmable Controller (now known as PLC - L for logic). They were micro processor based controllers that replaced industrial relays and timers for machine control. (still are) Now they interface with computers for monitoring and program changes on the fly.

[Carl Price]

And then there's the contradicting phrase "floppy disk". Why is it used to describe a piece of stiff plastic? Used to be they were called "diskettes" and "floppies" were 5.25 inches and bendable. (Oops! I'm showing my age again.) At that time there were no "PC's" either. PC was an acronym for Programmable Controller (now known as PLC - L for logic). They were micro processor based controllers that replaced industrial relays and timers for machine control. (still are) Now they interface with computers for monitoring and program changes on the fly.


What you see is not the disk itself. It is only packaging. The actual disk is quite floppy.

[Panama Red]

What you see is not the disk itself. It is only packaging. The actual disk is quite floppy.

True, the "floppy" part is inside the plastic. It's just that floppies used to be big an flexible. ;)

[Jester]

What you see is not the disk itself. It is only packaging. In reality ther is no disk only your mind... sorry shameless matrix reference

[David M]

Anyone remember punch cards? Reel to reel tape? I hope not too many of us old farts remember.

[Panama Red]

Anyone remember punch cards? Reel to reel tape? I hope not too many of us old farts remember.

Learned RPG on Big Blue machines in 1973 using punch cards. Long ago and far away! :D