Josh,

You must be a Young programmer (No offense intended). I remember to good
old days that everything's possible, including writing an OS from scratch
:-) But understand that, although it is technically possible, sometimes, it
is not financially possible or feasible.

The scrollbar, which like the "Button" is part of the OS. Any change to it
will require a change in the API. In this case, MS will have to add a new
Property to the scrollbar class to state it's location (left or right).
There are a few problems come to mind already:
1) A change like this, will require a new system DLL be distributed to all
users. i.e. Can only be done with new OS or Service pack. There was just
an article out there saying it is going to cost quite a bit of money to
distribute XP SP2 (not the development cost!)
2) If it is distributed as a Service Pack, you risk user who didn't
upgrade...
3) Since it is a change in the Scrollbar class, the length/size of the
class is different from the previous version. i.e. Almost all existing
Apps compiled against the old system DLL will have to RECOMPILED. The class
entry points, function entry points are all different now. i.e. No old
Apps can easily run on the new system patched with the new DLL (again, it is
possible for MS to do some magic tricks to address this, but not easy).
4) Now, think about No 2 again... Supposed all vendors recompiled their
apps, but all of a sudden, a user tries to run apps under old DLL. You face
the same problem of this app might try to look for the DLL entry point at
the wrong place.

To summarize, "Welcome to DLL Hell" :-)


"Josh Einstein" <josheinstein********.com> wrote in message
news:uRaIL6NVEHA.2320@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>I hear what you're saying but you've not said why existing apps would
>break.
>
> I think I need to talk to a developer about it to understand what the big
> problem is.
>
> --
> Josh Einstein
> Einstein Technologies
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Add ink input to Outlook with Tablet Enhancements for Outlook! Only
> $19.99!
> http://www.einsteinware.com
>
> "Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote in message
> news:eOz1SqNVEHA.716@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> Read Mike Williams post, Josh. Believe me, we've gone over this many
>> years ago, and until we have an operating system built from the ground
>> up - one that doesn't depend on legacy items - we're stuck with what
>> we've got. I've got a lefty daughter, and she copes just fine. It could
>> be easier for her, but with the discussions I've been part of over the
>> years it isn't economically feasible with the current OS.
>> --
>> Chris H.
>> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>> Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>> Associate Expert
>> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>
>>
>> "Josh Einstein" <josheinstein********.com> wrote in message
>> news:utvIxYNVEHA.3380@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>> Okay that's respectable. But then I won't admit I am wrong. :) I will
>>> try to get a technical explanation of this issue from the MS guys then,
>>> because as a windows developer, I see no reason why this is not
>>> possible. Scrollbars are nonclient areas which means the OS is
>>> responsible for creating them. Just as apps aren't affected by XP
>>> skinning them, so should they not be affected by orientation change.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Josh Einstein
>>> Einstein Technologies
>>> --------------------------------------------------------
>>> Add ink input to Outlook with Tablet Enhancements for Outlook! Only
>>> $19.99!
>>> http://www.einsteinware.com
>>>
>>> "Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eW5ApQNVEHA.3664@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>>> Josh, I won't debate with you what Microsoft developers have said.
>>>> Certain programs can do certain things, like I pointed out with OneNote
>>>> currently (SP1 form), but the entire operating system is another issue.
>>>> --
>>>> Chris H.
>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>>> Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>>> Associate Expert
>>>> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Josh Einstein" <josheinstein********.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:e3XeWFNVEHA.264@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>>>> That's not true. Things like multiline text boxes and html pages have
>>>>> scrollbars by default. Developers don't do anything special to create
>>>>> them.
>>>>>
>>>>> If the operating system simply rendered them on the left, the
>>>>> developer wouldn't have to do anything differently. If you can give me
>>>>> an example of something that would break, I will admit I'm wrong.
>>>>>
>>>>> Take a look at the IE menu I described. If they can draw a scrollbar
>>>>> on the left when I click a menu, then why not always?
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Josh Einstein
>>>>> Einstein Technologies
>>>>> --------------------------------------------------------
>>>>> Add ink input to Outlook with Tablet Enhancements for Outlook! Only
>>>>> $19.99!
>>>>> http://www.einsteinware.com
>>>>>
>>>>> "Chris H." <winxpnews********.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:u97nRpMVEHA.3016@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Josh, as Terri has said, and I tried to impart in my response,
>>>>>> Microsoft has dealt with this issue for years. Bill Gates is
>>>>>> left-handed. An example is Microsoft can set this up for $50,000
>>>>>> investment for research, development and adjustments on its current
>>>>>> programs and operating systems.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The other software companies around the world would need to spend
>>>>>> millions or billions of dollars to revamp/rewrite their software to
>>>>>> comply.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Guess what the prudent approach is Microsoft has chosen to take until
>>>>>> the Longhorn timeframe?
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Chris H.
>>>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>>>>> Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>>>>> Associate Expert
>>>>>> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Josh Einstein" <josheinstein********.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:%23IZK4$LVEHA.1652@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> In Internet Explorer, click the View Menu -> Encoding -> Right to
>>>>>>> Left Document.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It messes up the way some things look unfortunately, and it has to
>>>>>>> be set for each page. Web designers can apply this to individual
>>>>>>> DIV's too which Spencer Goad has done on his web site
>>>>>>> (www.tabletpcbuzz.com) so if you wanna check that out, go into the
>>>>>>> profile after you've become a member and change your handedness to
>>>>>>> left handed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So the ability is technically there. It's just a matter of changing
>>>>>>> the base controls. I can't forsee any major impact this would have
>>>>>>> on existing applications so if it's a very necessary feature, MS
>>>>>>> should be able to easily implement it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Josh Einstein
>>>>>>> Einstein Technologies
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>