Please don’t name your computers..

Posted by David Ciccone in January 22nd, 2007

Posted in: Ramblings

Oh boy where do I start? Why in the world do UMPC owners name their computers? Is this a normal thing to do for UMPC owners? Heck I worked for a UMPC company and had a cPC for 8 months and never thought of calling it Drucilla? I just got done reading a news (if it is) story about someone calling a computer a female name.. I personally thought it was quite stupid to be addressing it by a name in general other than the brand name.

But what do I know? Apparently nothing…

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David Levine Said in January 22nd, 2007 @9:34 pm

Well, I’ve never named a personal computer and I’ve had them since an Atari 800. If I named anything, it would have to be my Blackberry which I spend more time with my hands on then I do my wife, and she has a name.

Closest I can relate to naming computers is at my last job, when me and a co-worker were building a new Call Center in FL, we had a set of machines (maybe 10-12) hooked up to a couple KVMs in the computer room we used to build everything and test configurations before we deployed out to 600 desktops. Each was named a girl’s name from a Springsteen song. I think Rosalita was the last machine that remained.

Victor Said in January 22nd, 2007 @10:31 pm

I do not understand why it upsets you if someone chooses to name their device?

“…do UMPC owners name their computers…” So every UMPC owner out there name their device? Why not just use the names of the people (I assume Kevin and James) who does this?

I find strange (not stupid) that while you complain people use a nickname for a device (as you would name a pet or a building) you normally refuse to use the name of the people included on some of your rambling posts.

By the way, I have a UMPC without a name, do not plan to get one for the device, but do not think that doing it is stupid.

deemota Said in January 22nd, 2007 @10:41 pm

I always name my computers with their brand name. Last one was Thinkpad and my new one just 2 weeks old is VAIO….

David Ciccone Said in January 22nd, 2007 @10:45 pm

No Victor I wasn’t speaking about James nor Kevin.. Did you read this?
http://mpolino.blogspot.com/2006/06/help-me-name-my-q1.html

It blows my mind to see people naming their computer? Especially bloggers who are UMPC enthusiasts. What happens when a potential customer wants to find out more about the Q1 and they never find the above bloggers site? It hurts only one person.. The enthusiast..

I hope you understand my point.

David Ciccone Said in January 22nd, 2007 @11:06 pm

LMAO. Thats a smart way deemota..

Victor Said in January 23rd, 2007 @4:38 am

That’s a fair point Dave.

But your post did not come across like that. If the “enthusiast” uses a name for their device, as long as they also mention in the post/article the item they are talking about (or a hyperlink), the potential customer could realise they name it because of a particular preference they have on the product.

I did not realise the post was about someone else (Mark Polino), so I admit I assumed wrong. Probably next time you could include from the beginning who you are refering to; it definitely helps, as not everyone follows the same blogs.

Steve Said in January 23rd, 2007 @8:27 am

I think I will name mine beangarden. It has a real nice ring to it

Alison Barclay Said in January 23rd, 2007 @11:21 am

Hi Dave!

All our home computers (desktop and laptop) have names, as do our network storage device and our router. They’re all called slightly comical boys names (the desktop is Colin, the router is Rodney). My husband started it, but as he’s a sysadmin I guess it’s a networking thing. I always think it’s funny if something stops working and we demand to know why ‘Dave’ or ‘Colin’ isn’t talking!

Alison

David Ciccone Said in January 23rd, 2007 @11:37 am

Great point Alison! I am glad you are visiting. I think in a corporate environment it works great!

Thanks for commenting.

Dean Said in January 24th, 2007 @10:33 am

Hi Dave, My wife already thinks I’m obsesive with over 20 umpcs & pda.s (not icluding latops or phones)
If I started nameing my devices, I guess that would be IT for me. We our due to have our 3rd child and I cant even come up with name for him or her.

Mark Polino Said in January 24th, 2007 @11:49 am

Hmmm… Maybe I can help since I did the naming. My other PC’s all have names for networking purposes. As someone else mentioned, it’s a common networking thing, albeit with mixed results. (What building is Olympus in anyway?)

One reason why my Q1 got a name is that Microsoft and the vendors have screwed up the names so badly. “Hand me my UMPC” quickly becomes a tongue twister and I get weird stares from the kids. “Pass me the Q” doesn’t work if you have the Motorola Q also.

Also they are very personal devices. Anything else this attached to me usually gets removed by a doctor.

Finally, my kids loved the process of naming it and getting an embarrasing name to give dad’s device. It makes the unit more accessible to them. Frankly, if they’re having fun, the rest of the world can think whatever they want.

I don’t name my phones, they don’t last long enough. I also don’t normally refer to the other PC’s by name because they have functions. (The file is on the Media Center PC. The kids PC has spyware again, etc.) I can’t call the Q1 a laptop or a notebook, it’s not. I’ve tried notepad but that hasn’t caught on. If I say handheld people think PDA. So when I say “Hand me Binky” the kids get a chuckle. In posts, I try to always refer to the model as well as the name (Binky the Q1).

I still prefer Binky to the official Samsung designation of NP-Q1- (yes that’s what it was on the website) and that model name is better than most PC’s.

Mark Polino

Graftark Said in January 24th, 2007 @12:23 pm

I also name machines I use. My old home network in college was named Echo Base and used various Star Wars locations or names for the PCs. Yeah it’s pretty bad but when you have to do it, it’s more fun that way. I currently have my 8125 named PADD after those little notepad devices in Star Trek. Now I’ve never called a device Pam or anything like that… that would be wrong.

John Darrow Said in January 25th, 2007 @12:06 am

When computers are networked, particularly if several are the same model, names are needed to refer to them. Years ago my family’s machines were named after Power Rangers. Next iteration? Characters from Highlander (Methos was the oldest one.)

Ursula Gallagher Said in September 11th, 2007 @6:54 pm

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