It was a zip file, essentially. You drag files into it, then you drag it to your usb memory stick and take it to work. At wprk, you drag it from the usb drive to your briefacse on the work computer and it updates with the newer copies. That's about as much as I remember.
This is before usb. It was a dialup synchronizer between your work pc and your home one so that you could keep working on that Word doc.
I don’t think this was explicitly network connected? I’m fairly certain the original responder is mostly correct, except it would be a floppy disk instead of a USB drive.
Gpt4o the windows expert:
“ The meme references a somewhat obscure feature from older versions of Microsoft Windows called “Briefcase.” Here’s a brief explanation:
Windows Briefcase:
• Introduced in Windows 95 and present in several subsequent versions, the Briefcase was a special folder designed to help users keep files in sync between two locations, typically between a desktop and a laptop.
• You could create a Briefcase on your computer, add files to it, and then copy that Briefcase to another location, such as a floppy disk or another drive.
• When you made changes to the files on either location, you could use the Briefcase to update the files on both sides by synchronizing them. This feature was particularly useful in the era before widespread use of networked file sharing and cloud storage.
The meme humorously challenges a supposed “Windows expert” to explain this somewhat outdated and lesser-known feature, implying that true expertise includes knowledge of such old functionalities.”
OP specifically said "no cheating"!
Oh nooooo!!! A cheater good lord what is going to happen to them. How will they ever find peace knowing they've committed the worst of crimes.
I didn’t say i had the answer. just passed it on :)
For all i personally know this answer is completely made up, as is the danger with ai experts.
Dang so it was sneakernet dropbox for Windows 95? That's honestly sick.
MS OneDrive 0.1beta
People don't like spending time with their family so they found a way to let you take your work home before high speed internet and hard drives you can put in your pocket.
It was a feature in Windows 98 that no one used so they discontinued it.
In my first briefcase I stored my MS Paint drawings. I got a new job and bought a bigger briefcase, and now I put my Linux isos in there.
Wait, Linux ISOs are bigger than Paint drawings? 😆
They are if you get the organic kinds at the farmer’s market like I do
Wasn't it basically a portable "My Documents" folder? It would sync up online, right? Or at least was easier to copy to a floppy, cd, or USB drive? I never actually used it but I always assumed that's what it was for since it appeared in Windows once the Internet started being a major thing.
I actively used it to backup my art files onto USB, up until last year when it kept giving me error messages when I tried to update it, so I thought, screw it, manual drag and drop. I'm not sure if the amount or size of files got too big for it. Up till then, it was great for backups as it would automatically detect what had been updated and only transfer those files.
When did they remove the briefcase?
I remember it on Windows 98, but not XP.
Was it removed with the DOS/NT transition?
Or is it still around, just hidden?
It was definitely on XP
Probably around the time they rolled out OneDrive as a paid subscription service.
It was basically the early version of the Roaming folder. It would sync to a floppy disk.
It’s where we keep tacos.
You want one?
It allowed you to synchronize files between computers over floppy disk.
I have no idea what they do but I create a lot of them. I like the icon
What version of Windows was this thing in? It looks like a Win 95 style icon.
I don't think I've ever noticed that thing. But then I'd pretty much quit using Windows at the time.
I've used every version of Windows between 3.11 and 10. I don't remember ever noticing that either.
No idea, I was barely in my teens when I last saw that.
