Here is something I’ve recently started to question when working in Windows. When asking to “delete” a file, you are given a confirmation dialog to make sure that you wish to actually take this action.
At first thought, this is a good thing. If I’m going to delete something, I want my file manager to give me a good slap across the face to make sure that I really mean to destroy this file. But something isn’t quite right with this dialog when you inspect it more closely.
When you “delete” a file in Windows you are actually sending it to the recycling bin, as the dialog box points out. This is a non-destructive action, entirely reversible, which is implied by the metaphor of a recycling bin (or “trash”). Throwing a physical piece of paper into a real recycling bin does not require me to confirm my action, nor am I prevented from bending over and taking the paper back out of the bin if I change my mind.
I’ve been dealing with this for years and never thought about it… until I switched to a Mac, which does not ask me to verify these actions. I’ve since become conscious that GNOME (when I’m working in Linux) does not ask me to verify the “move to recycling bin” (aka: delete) action either. Both OSX and GNOME have realized that confirming this action is no longer necessary in a modern operating system using the “recycling bin” or “trash can” metaphor.
Perhaps Microsoft has fixed this in Vista, removing this unnecessary confirmation. I’m doubtful of that though.