win8.1 Why they added This PC folders

[gohpep]

I had Windows 8.1 before it had the This PC folders (in a leaked build), and in the metro file picker, it was awful to get to user folders, like downloads and desktop, you had to go to C:\Users and all that stuff. That wasn't that friendly, and even though it doesn't make sense in file explorer, the folders were added as a quick solution to this problem, since it was a simple registry addition. But, I believe they will find a way to somehow have folders in the metro file picker be different than on the desktop. And that's why it looks like this now, since most users don't know to go to the Users folder.

[PGHammer]

I had Windows 8.1 before it had the This PC folders (in a leaked build), and in the metro file picker, it was awful to get to user folders, like downloads and desktop, you had to go to C:\Users and all that stuff. That wasn't that friendly, and even though it doesn't make sense in file explorer, the folders were added as a quick solution to this problem, since it was a simple registry addition. But, I believe they will find a way to somehow have folders in the metro file picker be different than on the desktop. And that's why it looks like this now, since most users don't know to go to the Users folder.

Actually, there's a much simpler reason.

 

Remember the old "Libraries" feature?  "This PC" is a straight-up replacement for "Libraries" - nothing more or less.

[gohpep]

If this was the case, they would have removed libraries and added the same features as libraries

[SionicIon]

If this was the case, they would have removed libraries and added the same features as libraries

They aren't trying to extend the Libraries feature to the Modern UI app, as they are ridding of Libraries. They are replacing the easy access that Libraries provided you with accessing your user folders and ridding of the rest that it could do.

[Darrian]

Except "the rest that it could do" is what made them useful.  Ease of access was already there.

[Ian W]

If this was the case, they would have removed libraries and added the same features as libraries

Libraries are disabled by default in Windows 8.1. Keep in mind that Microsoft has a history of replacing features with newer ones that do not provide the same functionality . . .

[gohpep]

They aren't trying to extend the Libraries feature to the Modern UI app, as they are ridding of Libraries. They are replacing the easy access that Libraries provided you with accessing your user folders and ridding of the rest that it could do.

Libraries are still there, but for normal users, they did not use anything more than the user folders, so by default, Libraries are hidden and user folders are more visible.

[PGHammer]

Libraries are still there, but for normal users, they did not use anything more than the user folders, so by default, Libraries are hidden and user folders are more visible.

Worse, you could NOT extend the Libraries feature to third-party software of any sort (such as download-management applications) - user folders are a better solution.

 

The issue is not unique to Windows 8+, either - it's why I didn't use the Libraries feature in the first place (too many third-party applications couldn't use it, such as uTorrent or FileZilla or Internet Download Manager - all three DO support file folders, but none have ever supported the Libraries feature).

 

For example, Internet Download Manager lets you sort target folders for downloads by file type (such as video files or even ISOs) - however, it can't be a Library.  It CAN be a specific folder (the default for each Library folder is SYSVOL/Users/(username)/LibraryFolderName).  You can't even create new Library folders directly, even as an Administrator.

[Silver47]

I think another massive issue was adding removable storage to libraries for xbox music/videos apps. Now removing libraries solved the problem... A bit over dramatic but solved the problem.