Shouldn't the names of devices be catchier?

Logseman · 08-26-2010, 07:48 AM

Ebook readers tend to be named with boring names: PRS-Whatever, Pocketbook +Number, Kindle (= turn on)... I mean, I understand that their primary function is allowing their users to read and not showing off a name, but I feel it is a bit of a shame to let perfectly good names go to waste due to lack of imagination.

Furthermore, I'd daresay ebook readers have better reasons to get catchier names than mobile phones or tablets: dedicated readers are usually bought by people who read much more than the average, thus they'd be able to recognise and appreciate the value of euphony, and they'd able as well to make associations which can be beneficial to the sales potential of these particular products. Plus, they intend to be more durable than other kinds of devices, so it's a good idea to find a good name which creates brand loyalty in its own (aside of course of your own marketing capabilities and budget).

I'll give you an example of what I mean: IMO a good name for a reading device was iLiad. It conveyed an idea of adventure, wisdom and venerability which come of course from Homer's work, but which, in my mind, could "flow" to the device. I couldn't buy it at its time, but I admit the name made it more sympathetic to me than other competitors called PRS-700 or Hanlin 6.1. It was more expensive too, true

I think more creativity could be put in naming ebook readers.

Sweetpea · 08-26-2010, 07:59 AM

I like the name of my Mini... It's just that, a BeBook Mini, a miniature version of the BeBook...

I think a name should be easy to remember and easy to say. Also, it should say something about that device, especially if you (as in you the company) have more than one.

The first time I heard about the PRS-300, I thought it was a 3" screen...

Ben Thornton · 08-26-2010, 08:00 AM

I was thinking that for the Kindle "latest generation" aka 3, not having a proper name at all seemed like a mistake. (I mean no new name to refer to the updated device)

Most hi-tech items have pretty boring names. I wonder why they don't do what they do with cars.

queentess · 08-26-2010, 09:15 AM

"Honey, have you seen my PRS-300?" Meh. It just sounds stupid. They could at least give it an actual name, not just a code.

calvin-c · 08-26-2010, 09:25 AM

To me, Kindle sounds like something you'd use to start a fire. Come to think of it, that's probably what I'd do with it if I was given a Kindle so maybe it's a good name after all.

Seriously, IMO a name should indicate what the device is. For eBook readers that means (still JMO) it should include Book or Reader or something like that. As far as the complaints about the PRS-300 are concerned, my understanding is that the full name is Sony Reader PRS-300. I don't think the manufacturers should be blamed for misunderstandings that occur when people only use part of the name the manufacturer assigns. (Maybe we should call the Kindle just 1, 2, 3, or DX. Would that be 'catchier'?)

JeremyZ · 08-26-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

I was thinking that for the Kindle "latest generation" aka 3, not having a proper name at all seemed like a mistake. (I mean no new name to refer to the updated device)

Agreed. I think they do this to keep newcomers ignorant of the fact that they're being updated every couple years, so they don't worry about obsolescence.

That said, I think the name 'Kindle' was really good. The rest of them are kind of lame though. I'm getting pretty tired of device names starting with a lower case letter, followed by an upper case one. It shows zero creativity. I hate to say it, but Apple is the most guilty.

Logseman · 08-26-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

I'm getting pretty tired of device names starting with a lower case letter, followed by an upper case one. It shows zero creativity. I hate to say it, but Apple is the most guilty.

iAgree.

kjk · 08-26-2010, 09:42 AM

Some companies tend to treat model or inventory numbers as brands, sadly.

But, even though people here tend to use PRS-, Kindle2US, etc..., the companies don't necessarily advertise that way. Nook, Kindle, Sony Reader, etc...are how they are branded and advertised, in many cases.

We tend to use the model numbers to differentiate features here-but it isn't always the case for most users.

daffy4u · 08-26-2010, 09:49 AM

Cell phones use a lot of names, there may not be many left.

I like the simpler names. I can't follow all the car numbers (BMW 320i or is than an Infinity... whatever) so I appreciate the simple, Kindle/nook 1, 2, 3 etc.

JeremyZ · 08-26-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logseman

iAgree.

Good one!

Logseman · 08-26-2010, 09:53 AM

Names of Shakespearian plays would be cool. Maybe the reader is called Romeo and the firmware Juliet?

shootingMaNs · 08-26-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logseman

Names of Shakespearian plays would be cool. Maybe the reader is called Romeo and the firmware Juliet?

In Sony's case, it would be oil and water. To get them to work together, you could call it The Taming of the Shrew?

ardeegee · 08-26-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

"Honey, have you seen my PRS-300?" Meh. It just sounds stupid. They could at least give it an actual name, not just a code.

Uh, that is the "Pocket." The 600 is the "Touch." The 900 is the "Daily."

Remember, some of the most popular early computers had names like "II", "II+", "IIgs", "64", "Plus 4", etc.

Ravensknight · 08-26-2010, 12:33 PM

yes, they should be catchier. Make me think fun and sexy, or tough and macho. Not what they make me think of now, ie, nothing...

HamsterRage · 08-26-2010, 01:33 PM

At least Kobo is an anagram of "book".

08-26-2010, 07:48 AM	#1
Logseman Orisa Posts: 1,999 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	Shouldn't the names of devices be catchier? Ebook readers tend to be named with boring names: PRS-Whatever, Pocketbook +Number, Kindle (= turn on)... I mean, I understand that their primary function is allowing their users to read and not showing off a name, but I feel it is a bit of a shame to let perfectly good names go to waste due to lack of imagination. Furthermore, I'd daresay ebook readers have better reasons to get catchier names than mobile phones or tablets: dedicated readers are usually bought by people who read much more than the average, thus they'd be able to recognise and appreciate the value of euphony, and they'd able as well to make associations which can be beneficial to the sales potential of these particular products. Plus, they intend to be more durable than other kinds of devices, so it's a good idea to find a good name which creates brand loyalty in its own (aside of course of your own marketing capabilities and budget). I'll give you an example of what I mean: IMO a good name for a reading device was iLiad. It conveyed an idea of adventure, wisdom and venerability which come of course from Homer's work, but which, in my mind, could "flow" to the device. I couldn't buy it at its time, but I admit the name made it more sympathetic to me than other competitors called PRS-700 or Hanlin 6.1. It was more expensive too, true I think more creativity could be put in naming ebook readers.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Names of files	clockmaker	Calibre	3	08-26-2010 08:52 PM
Author names	superplinio	Calibre	6	02-27-2010 04:58 AM
Weird Names	hatem35	Sony Reader	7	12-04-2009 04:27 PM
Help me out with a couple of names	ardeegee	Lounge	12	09-27-2009 03:41 AM
Author Names	ClockworkDragon	Sony Reader	1	12-01-2008 04:39 PM

08-26-2010, 07:59 AM	#2
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I like the name of my Mini... It's just that, a BeBook Mini, a miniature version of the BeBook... I think a name should be easy to remember and easy to say. Also, it should say something about that device, especially if you (as in you the company) have more than one. The first time I heard about the PRS-300, I thought it was a 3" screen...

08-26-2010, 08:00 AM	#3
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	I was thinking that for the Kindle "latest generation" aka 3, not having a proper name at all seemed like a mistake. (I mean no new name to refer to the updated device) Most hi-tech items have pretty boring names. I wonder why they don't do what they do with cars.

08-26-2010, 09:15 AM	#4
queentess Reading is sexy Posts: 1,303 Karma: 544517 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	"Honey, have you seen my PRS-300?" Meh. It just sounds stupid. They could at least give it an actual name, not just a code.

08-26-2010, 09:25 AM	#5
calvin-c Guru Posts: 787 Karma: 1575310 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Moon+ Pro	To me, Kindle sounds like something you'd use to start a fire. Come to think of it, that's probably what I'd do with it if I was given a Kindle so maybe it's a good name after all. Seriously, IMO a name should indicate what the device is. For eBook readers that means (still JMO) it should include Book or Reader or something like that. As far as the complaints about the PRS-300 are concerned, my understanding is that the full name is Sony Reader PRS-300. I don't think the manufacturers should be blamed for misunderstandings that occur when people only use part of the name the manufacturer assigns. (Maybe we should call the Kindle just 1, 2, 3, or DX. Would that be 'catchier'?)

08-26-2010, 09:42 AM	#8
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	Some companies tend to treat model or inventory numbers as brands, sadly. But, even though people here tend to use PRS-, Kindle2US, etc..., the companies don't necessarily advertise that way. Nook, Kindle, Sony Reader, etc...are how they are branded and advertised, in many cases. We tend to use the model numbers to differentiate features here-but it isn't always the case for most users.

08-26-2010, 09:49 AM	#9
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Cell phones use a lot of names, there may not be many left. I like the simpler names. I can't follow all the car numbers (BMW 320i or is than an Infinity... whatever) so I appreciate the simple, Kindle/nook 1, 2, 3 etc.

08-26-2010, 09:53 AM	#11
Logseman Orisa Posts: 1,999 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	Names of Shakespearian plays would be cool. Maybe the reader is called Romeo and the firmware Juliet?

08-26-2010, 12:33 PM	#14
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	yes, they should be catchier. Make me think fun and sexy, or tough and macho. Not what they make me think of now, ie, nothing...

08-26-2010, 01:33 PM	#15
HamsterRage Evangelist Posts: 435 Karma: 24326 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	At least Kobo is an anagram of "book".