I also think Libraries are stupid and hid that quickly.
What is the point? I have a separate folder for all my DVDs, a seperate HD from music, etc. There is no point to having Libraries and scattering your stuff all over the the place.
What is the point of cigarette lighters in cars? I don't use them so why are they there? I could complain about their existence but it is easier, and takes less time from my concious existence, to just not use them.
But you will take away the 6 cup-holders in my car when you pry them from my cold dead hands...
So you would revert to back to XP because you don't like a feature but you have not tried to use the instructions on disabling the feature yet....
Perhaps you should revert back to XP ... or maybe go even farther... every real professional knows that the last good OS M$ produced was Win 98SE....
Seriously, if it bothers you that much disable the feature and be done with it.
What does it mean exactly, to disable Libraries? If Libraries are just links - what's to disable?
However, I see that the OP wants to remove Libraries from the navigation pane in Windows Explorer. Indeed it's there and occupies a line. Now, if it's possible to remove them from there, then I actually have a question - is it possible to completely reorganize the navigation pane to one's liking? What I mean is that instead of the simple directory tree, we have a whole lot of artificial constructions - such as Libraries - but most annoyingly Favorites, which takes up three lines on top of everything. Then, the tree starts with Desktop, and that includes Libraries, the folder with my username, which I have no use for, then Computer, Network, and Control Panel, and finally the Recycle Bin. Out of all of these, I only need to see Computer, which is a real directory tree. The Desktop itself might be useful, but everything else just occupies space. I mean, I use Control Panel, would not dream of asking to "disable" it, but I have never once accessed it through that link in the navigation pane. Same with the Recycle bin. Favorites, Network, and My Documents - or the folder with my username now - I have never used in my life. So, can I remove those as well from the navigation pane?
It would appear that no one has yet mentioned the reason that I use libraries - my data is all held in well organised single locations, and with a structure that has served me well over many years.
What the libraries functionality gives me is to sort the data into different groups for example my music is organised alphabetically by artist - using the library (which only has the single entry pointing to the actual data), I can arrange by ... song, artist folder or genre.
this is enough of an advantage tto me to spend a few seconds pointing the libraries to the data
Are you saying that windows explorer now reads tags on music files? I can already sort and search my music (and play, update, etc) by any detail I wish using foobar, and in a completely customized way and view, and probably faster. Libraries are still useless for me (if they actually do that, which wasn't my impression).
As you can see from the screen attached the sort options are available - I too have better options available for sort and organisation, but it is an advantage to me to have a quick & dirty system available direct in the OS.
As with anything in the OS - I choose to use the functionality, others do not, it's a personal choice, that does not mean that a particular function is good or bad, just suitable or not for the way people work
When dealing with clients I explain what is available but I do not impose any particular way of working. If a particular system does not suit the way that they work then they do not have to use it.
Microsoft has not made the upgrade to win7 a mandatory upgradeso if any particular function is a "deal breaker", for anyone, it is perfectly acceptable to for them stay with what they are comfortable with and works for them.
If I find a particular function in an OS or application is a deal breaker for me I will find a workaround or find an alternative, No OS or application is perfect for everyone.
Just wanted to say I really like the libraries feature of Windows 7.
For various reasons I often have groups of similar files stored in various places on my internal HDD and external HDDs. Creating libraries and adding these locations to them allows me to have access to everything in one area which then saves me the trouble of having to navigate to the correct location every time. Plus it provides a nice "At a glance" view of everything together.
Windows Explorer as been able to read the tags of MP3s and other supporeted files since Windows Vista. I posted screenshots of the Library method of sorting Music a while back as well:
Folder Settings Driving me MAD !!!!!!!
