7 ms·

There's a lot more to an operating system than how it manages non-fullscreen applications. "Windows" is obviously a related term, but I don't think it's generic

There's a lot more to an operating system than how it manages non-fullscreen applications. "Windows" is obviously a related term, but I don't think it's generic--when I boot up Linux on my laptop, I don't say, "This Linux/Xorg/Openbox combination sure is a great windows!" But I might say, "This collection of software for my smartphone compiled and sold by Amazon sure is a great app store." Edit: See also: MS Office, MS Word, MS Security Essentials, and arguably MS Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer (I browse the internet and manage/browse files--there's not much literal "exploring" going on)

mikemaccana 15y ago
> I don't think it's generic--when I boot up Linux on my laptop, I don't say, "This Linux/Xorg/Openbox combination sure is a great windows!" You never 'open a window', or 'close a window', or 'change a window'? You might be younger than me (I'm 30) but I've been doing that since having an Atari ST in the last 80s.
- Tiomaidh 15y ago
  Sure I perform window operations, but they're not nearly the same thing as using Windows--which entails a lot more than using windows.
- burgerbrain 15y ago
  As far as I know, MSFT doesn't have a trademark on the term "window" as used to describe objects in a GUI. They have a trademark on the term "Windows" as a whole system. Same reason you can buy "linux" laundry detergent.
  - mikemaccana 15y ago
    Windows began as an installable GUI, target than a whole system. It was only in 1995 that it started doing more than windowing.
    - mikemaccana 15y ago
      Ahem, 'target' should be 'rather'. Hooray autocorrect.
    - burgerbrain 15y ago
      Even so, their trademark in that case was on the windowing system. Not on the UI elements generally called "windows".
      - mikemaccana 15y ago
        I'm going to flat disagree that windowing systems and window UI elements are separate fields of endeavor, in the same way that laundry detergent and computer Operating Systems are. I think most lawyers would too.

mikemaccana 15y ago

> I don't think it's generic--when I boot up Linux on my laptop, I don't say, "This Linux/Xorg/Openbox combination sure is a great windows!" You never 'open a window', or 'close a window', or 'change a window'? You might be younger than me (I'm 30) but I've been doing that since having an Atari ST in the last 80s.

Tiomaidh 15y ago
Sure I perform window operations, but they're not nearly the same thing as using Windows--which entails a lot more than using windows.
burgerbrain 15y ago
As far as I know, MSFT doesn't have a trademark on the term "window" as used to describe objects in a GUI. They have a trademark on the term "Windows" as a whole system. Same reason you can buy "linux" laundry detergent.
- mikemaccana 15y ago
  Windows began as an installable GUI, target than a whole system. It was only in 1995 that it started doing more than windowing.
  - mikemaccana 15y ago
    Ahem, 'target' should be 'rather'. Hooray autocorrect.
  - burgerbrain 15y ago
    Even so, their trademark in that case was on the windowing system. Not on the UI elements generally called "windows".
    - mikemaccana 15y ago
      I'm going to flat disagree that windowing systems and window UI elements are separate fields of endeavor, in the same way that laundry detergent and computer Operating Systems are. I think most lawyers would too.