June 3rd, 2009
Microsoft's name-game: they're "netbooks" - plain and simple
What’s in a name?
In the case of Microsoft trying to rebrand “netbook” computers, the name game could lead to confusion.
For some reason, Microsoft doesn’t like the term “netbook” and instead is trying to get the phrase “low cost small notebook PCs” into common everyday use. Seriously? Why does Microsoft have to go messing around with the name of an entire category when 1) the name is use is already kind of catchy and 2) the alternative suggestion isn’t very good.
According to reports, the thinking behind the name change has to do with different versions of Windows 7 for different types of machines. Or something like that.
Bottom line: if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck… Changing the name won’t change the fact that Apple COO called netbooks “junky.” And throwing the words “low cost” and “small” into the category name won’t change any perceptions about these devices. In fact, nothing says “cheap” like the words “low cost” and “small.” At least with “netbook,” the unaware shopper probably gets the idea that these small machines were designed for Internet usage.
This whole name game thing reminds me of the confusion that stemmed from the IEEE 1394 technology that preceded USB 2.0 for connecting devices such as digital camcorders to a computer. That technology was widely used on Macs - and Apple called it Firewire. Sony, on the other hand, called it iLink. And then there were those who just stuck by the geeky “IEEE 1394.”
Today, Firewire (I’m a Mac guy, I call it Firewire) has been replaced by new versions of USB.
Sam Diaz is a senior editor at ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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