"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:78qd05d7tqtrhn9qmu7tplnhc5pq0c95aj@xxxxxx
Quote:
> On Sun, 10 May 2009 14:01:12 +0100, "Dave-UK" <here@xxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Quote:
>> The words 'directory' and 'folder' are the same thing.
>> Microsoft called it a 'directory' in earlier versions of Windows.
>> Then they changed it to a 'folder'.
>> So now we have the same thing called a directory or a folder.
>
>
> What you say is 99% correct, and for most practical purposes for most
> people, it's fine. But it's not completely correct, and there is a
> slight difference between the two. Read here for an explanation:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directory_(file_systems)
>
> That pages states "Strictly speaking, there is a difference between a
> directory which is a file system concept, and the graphical user
> interface metaphor that is used to represent it (a folder). For
> example, Microsoft Windows uses the concept of special folders to help
> present the contents of the computer to the user in a fairly
> consistent way that frees the user from having to deal with absolute
> directory paths, which can vary between versions of Windows, and
> between individual installations."
> Yes, thanks for that. I didn't bother thinking about the finer points; I just wanted to
give a basic explanation to the OP.