Live data from Hacker News

When I first heard the name "Safari"

donmelton.com

131–140 of 180 posts

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, I can't see how "killing elephants" is different than "exploiting the natives; killing rare animals". Safari is phonetically a very nice name, however it still bears negative connotations. At least for some people.

Great names often have some negative connotations. Caterpillar is such an excellent name, that almost everybody remembers it once they have seen it. That can't be said about many other building machinery brands. But you can bet that when that name was proposed, somebody raised objections because "you can't name our powerful machines after an insect" Virgin Airlines has very negative connotations ("Virgin communicates…

Just an FYI, you do know that the Virgin Group has been around a lot longer than the airline company right?

The brand name "Virgin" arose when Branson and a partner were starting their first business, a record shop. They considered themselves virgins in business.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Group

It is a very British story so most of us in the UK probably know the success story a lot better.

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#134
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great names often have some negative connotations. Caterpillar is such an excellent name, that almost everybody remembers it once they have seen it. That can't be said about many other building machinery brands. But you can bet that when that name was proposed, somebody raised objections because "you can't name our powerful machines after an insect" Virgin Airlines has very negative connotations ("Virgin communicates…

Just an FYI, you do know that the Virgin Group has been around a lot longer than the airline company right? The brand name "Virgin" arose when Branson and a partner were starting their first business, a record shop. They considered themselves virgins in business. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Group It is a very British story so most of us in the UK probably know the success story a lot better.

Yes. I've read a couple of books by Sir Branson. Virgin Airlines was used by Igor Branding agency in their naming guide of something that somebody might object even if Virgin prefix is an obvious choice for any Branson's company

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#135

I feel like I am pretty good at naming things (I dont think about it for too long, if that matters). Describe to me a product and I'll name it for you.

A thingie that's mostly white with a blinking stick on it where if you hit the keyboard letters show up, and you can make some letters thicker and some slanted in a weird way.

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#137
It was a poor choice of name in that it gives no hint as to what the application might actually do.

While on holiday and in need of some internet, a (highly intelligent) friend searched around the local town and could only found a Mac in a hotel lobby. Despite being very motivated she was unable to persuade it to open a browser and eventually gave up and was left wondering how Macs could possibly be described as intuitive or user friendly.

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#138
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just an FYI, you do know that the Virgin Group has been around a lot longer than the airline company right? The brand name "Virgin" arose when Branson and a partner were starting their first business, a record shop. They considered themselves virgins in business. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Group It is a very British story so most of us in the UK probably know the success story a lot better.

Yes. I've read a couple of books by Sir Branson. Virgin Airlines was used by Igor Branding agency in their naming guide of something that somebody might object even if Virgin prefix is an obvious choice for any Branson's company

Yes, I totally get your point. A bit of a double edged sword really!

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#139

Product naming can be ridiculously hard. Even if you have something you personally think is clever, everyone else can think you're a dork. Related anecdotes: When trying to come up with a name for Firefox (after having two other names rejected due to trademark snafus), a friend of mine sarcastically rattled off a bunch of alternatives using the same prefix as the outgoing "Firebird" on IRC one night. I think it was "…

I had been a Phoenix user for several months when I heard it had run into problems with the name. When I heard it was going to be called Firefox, I thought it was the most ridiculous name I'd ever heard! Funny, now I really like it.

When I first heard the name Barack, though... http://rense.com/general84/brck.htm

Re: When I first heard the name "Safari"

#140
post #137

It was a poor choice of name in that it gives no hint as to what the application might actually do. While on holiday and in need of some internet, a (highly intelligent) friend searched around the local town and could only found a Mac in a hotel lobby. Despite being very motivated she was unable to persuade it to open a browser and eventually gave up and was left wondering how Macs could possibly be described as intu…

And "Firefox" and "Chrome" are sensible names?
Post reply on HN