I know one thing about this, when searching for Information on the web about a specific issue, the first search is the whole real name of the OS (ex: Windows 7). But if you want to find 15 times as much information about the same problem, put common abbreviated terms for the OS in the same search (ex: win7).
Any site discussing computers in general the users apply so many abbreviated terms I dont know what they are talking about half the time (I hear a whooshing sound as it goes over my head). Myself I sometimes toss in one non-abbreviated , then continue to abbreviate after it is known. but only for users who might not know.
One time I searched for the layers of abbreviated computer terms, but for medical, and noticed that a large percentage of computer abbreviations are some sort of biological function, disease, or medical operation :-) If they ever collided the 2 PHDs together neither would know what the other was talking about. If they ever perform a XP on my brain , I hope I get a second Wind :-)
The abbreviations are not analised against the total word count, we can write 3 pages of junk and abbreviate needlessly just because it is boring to write that so many times, not because it makes anything shorter, or is difficult to type it again. Just like a doctors Prescriptions :-) Could be the most important thing, but who can actually read them?
It is a "brand" , when talking on the web a person might say cola, soda, or Coke, Is it the phone company or ATT, do you call it a Klenex because it is faster than facial tissue, or because you do, or do Not want to sell the "brand". In some ways I dont respect the Brand, I would prefer to call it That stupid computer OS most of us are using :-) They dont deserve the advertising :-) If I use the word Orange, nobody expects me to say "Bahia Navel Orange Genetic variation 11847" It is "Just another operating system" which just leaves which one.
I suppose you were looking for an actual opinion? I dont have one, it is just how things have occured. On one side I do not expect anyone to type out Windows 7 on any computer related forum. On the other side it makes searching for win7 specific things much harder.
Hey We got Tags :-)