The other day I referred to one of my laptops as “Starbuck” and the topic of naming your gadgets came up. I do it in the grand tradition of naming servers or printers or such, just to make it easy to know which device I’m talking about. I generally use my default “stuffed animal” names for mobile devices, and name computers after SciFi characters.
Do you name your gadgets? Tell me the names int he comments? Here are some of mine.
MacBook Pro (Unibody) – Martha Jones
Old MacBook Pro (Silver keyboard) – Lois
Old ThinkPad T42 – Starbuck
Dell Windows XP machine – HAL
iPod – BobPod
iPhone – FredPhone
iPad – JeffPad
Apple TV – Teeves (like Jeeves)
Slingbox – Sam
I don’t name things like the TiVo, PS3, Wii Xbox, etc… because they’re so easy to refer to anyway.
May 12th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I named the MacBook Pro I traveled the country with after John Steinbeck’s dog from “Travels with Charley.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amtrekker/2193449184/
May 12th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
yep!
Desktop – Beast
Laptop – eXPy
Cell – Anny
Work Desktop – Slug
Mp3 – Ztop
Netbook – Netty
May 12th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
I’ve been doing this for years- and not only gadgets, but vehicles too;
iPhone – uberPhone
MacbookPro (2008 model) – Orac
Apple TV – Slim
Netbook (ASUS 1000HE, white) – Napoleon
Apple iMac G3 (Bondi Blue one) – Anchor
Dell Poweredge 2300 Server – Slave
@mrsmoldor’s Macbook – boofhead
Miss5’s G4 12″ Powerbook – Dora
Miss10’s 17″ G4 Powerbook – Kitty
Cobalt Qube3 (dev server) – Tardis
Toshiba Tecra 8000 laptop – Carjack (used for maintenance manuals in the garage)
Not all names are random – Orac and Slave are from Blake’s Seven, Tardis from Dr Who, and Napoleon from “Bill & Ted’s Excellend Adventure” (Napoleon was some short white dead dude)
moldor
May 12th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
I am also guilty of this. I have a Firefly theme going:
iMac 24″ – Serenity
Internal HDD – Shiny
iPhone – River
iPad – Kaylee
5-String Bass – Inara
4-String Bass – Zoe
May 12th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
So what was the name?
May 12th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
I only tend to name computers. My Macbook is called Lizzie and my old Toshiba is called Becca.
May 12th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I sure do!
Laptop – Smithers
Desktop – Collis
iPod w/ video – Isaac (iSaac)
iPod Nano – Benjamin
iPod shuffle – Ms. DiPesto
Canon HV30 – Adam, HV20 (#1)Leia, HV20 (#2)Luke
Canon Rebel XT – Seth
Zune – Jacob
Starbuck’s Coffee mug (I know, not a gadget) – Capt. Stubing
May 12th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Imac – Alanis
Gaming PC – Julissa
Media PC – Twyla
iTouch 2g – Alanis
iTouch 3g – Liz Phair
Zune Liv
Dell Laptop – Jessica
HTC Incrdible – Baby
That all I have opperational right now that I have named. Funny how I too don’t name my 360 or compennets other than the computer in the home theater.
May 12th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
My husband and I name computers and gadgets after Starcraft units and buildings. Linux = Zerg, Windows = Terran, Mac = Protoss.
For example:
Original iBook = zealot
Overclocked windows box = firebat
Linux box = hydralisk
The dual-boot Windows-Linux box was, what else, “infested terran”. :)
May 12th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
(I’m partially disabled….)
My cane — Citizen
My walker — Johnny
My car — Dora (she’s an explorah)
May 12th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Been naming them for a little while now. I have a Mythology Name list going
Main HP PC: Quirinus
iPod: Spartacus
iPod (Mom’s): Aethra
Dad’s PC: Nomiki
Two ExHD’s: Romulus & Remus
PS3: Hyperion
May 12th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
1. Mac Mini with 22″ Apple Monitor – Carl Sagan
2. Toshiba NB205 Netbook – Isaac Newton
3. MSi Wind Netbook – Johannes Kepler
4. iPod Touch 32G – Seth Shostak
5. iPad 3G – Robert Oppenheimer
May 12th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I don’t name my gadgets….but thought it interesting that most of the lists above are Apple centric. Is that a common thread?
May 12th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Just one…
24″ iMac- Nelson the Freedom Poodle
May 12th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
I moved from a MST3K theme to an anime theme. My iPod (Serenity) is the only oddity:
Mac LC II: Satellite of Love (hard drives: Tom Servo, Cambot)
HP LaserJet 4ML: Rocket #9
PowerBook Duo 230: Deus Ex Machina (hard drive: Joel)
Power Mac 7100/80AV: The Ark
PowerBook Duo 280c: Voltron
Power Mac G3 (beige): Gatchaman (hard drive: Godphoenix)
PowerBook G3 (Wallstreet): Iria
Power Mac G4: Digivice (hard drives: Renamon, Kyubimon, Sakuyamon)
MacBook Pro: Ghost in the Shell (hard drive: Tachikoma)
iPod: Serenity
iPhone (original): iPhone
iPad 3G: iPad
May 12th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
All my computers are named after Transformers characters, locations, and ships:
1. Macbook Pro – Silverstreak
2. Wife’s Dell Laptop – Dinobot
3. Desktop – Grimlock
4. Home Server – Nemesis
5. Old laptop – Soundwave
6. Work computer – Tigatron
Things like my Tivo, AppleTV, and iPhone/iPods are generally left to their product names.
May 12th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Of course I name things I’m a geek and it’s cool lol.
My Custom Built PC – Babylon 5
AT&T Tilt – Victory
iPod – Excalibur
Old Gateway laptop – The-Ark
Old Custom PC – Cybertron
Linksys – Midway
HTC Incredible – Starfury
4GB Sony flash drive – Prometheus
May 12th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
I not only name my machines, I make full-blown characters out of them (character designs and such).
1. Blastoise (primary desktop – gaming/graphics/etc.)
Character does not actually look like the Pokemon. I just can’t let go of the name.
2. Dinah (laptop)
Ninja~
3. Yggdrasil / “Iggy” (secondary desktop – home theater)
Old wizard dude. Based on Fusoya (Final Fantasy 4).
May 12th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Simpsons theme here.
Windows Desktop: Otto
Macbook Pro: Hibbert
Linux Laptop: Frink
File Server: DiscoStu
iPod: Brockman
X360: Skinner
TiVo: Cleatus
May 12th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
It’s funny that you named your iPod BobPod. I did the same thing, using a “Bob replacement” technique (long story). So I have bobPod, bobPod nano, bobPhone, bobPad, iBob (retired iMac), BobTV, BobBook, Bob mini, Airbob Extreme, Bobgellan, LaBob (LaCie hard drive), and Slingbob. I used to have a BobVo and PalmBob. It’s not just gadgets. My dog’s name is Bob.
May 12th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
iPhone 3GS – BEN PHONE
iPhone 3G – BEN PHONE 3G
iPhone 2G – BEN PHONE 2G
iPad WiFi – BEN PAD
MacBook pro – BEN BOOK PRO
Mac mini – BEN MINI
Canon EOS 550D – as itself
May 12th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
oh i forgot
iPhone HD – BEN JAIL
May 12th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I use veggie names…
Rutabaga,butternut, zuchineee, asparagus, tomatillo, radicchio, and many more.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Wizards from Discworld:
Home:
Desktop – Rincewind
Laptop – Weatherwax
Work:
PC – Ridcully
Macbook – Stibbons
Mac Pro – Poons
May 12th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Ext. Harddrive1: Thoreau
Ext. Harddrive2: Hamlet
iPad: Thing2
May 12th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Studio 15 – Holly
Mini 1000 – Dwarf
Gaming PC – Kryten
Home Server – Lister
I guess I have a theme going ….
May 12th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I name all my PCs after battle vessels (preferably ones not named after people, which is kind of tough because there are a lot of USN ships named stuff like “USS Arleigh Burke”). I name all my cars, with no particular pattern, other than that it usually has something to do with the character of the vehicle.
As follows:
File Server: Nimitz
Laptop: Nautilus
Wife’s Desktop: Aegis
Old desktop: Hornet
Other old desktop: Missouri
Cars (the first couple are my folks’ from when I was a kid):
1982 Motorhome: The White Elephant
1996 Dodge Ram: The Big Green
1988 T-Bird: The Rattler (after the GI Joe toy, but also the fact that it rattled)
2001 Ford Expedition: The Beast
2001 BMW R1100RT-P: The Led Zeppelin
May 12th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Netbook – The Matbook
iPhone – The Matphone
I thought about naming the 360 but the Matbox doesn’t have the same ring to it.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I tend to name my computers after creatures. My full-size laptop is coy-fish and my netbook is kitten.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Back on my Win95 PC the 4GB hard drive had to be partitioned into two 2 GB drives that I named Bob and Id. I’ve stuck with that naming convention ever since. The hard drives may have changed, and these days are two physical drives but the names have stayed. I named the Tivo MyBestFriend when their site wanted a nickname for it, and when I got a second I called it TheOtherOne. I guess I wanted it to have self-esteem issues.
May 12th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
I usually go with something abstract and then name internal components based on that theme or purpose.
Laptop- The Distance
Data Partition of said laptop- Tank
USB HDD that’s always connected- Minivan
Media PC- Ventilator(cause the whole front is a big air vent
Media HDD on said pc- Grass Valley
iPhone- Cloudpad
May 12th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Yes I do have a naming scheme
I have named all my tech toys after Star wars Bounty Hunters. (I know ….)
Desktop- IG-88
Laptop- Jango
Netbook- Bobba
Smartphone- Greedo (It’s a Palm Pre)
iPod Touch- Han
Router- Spi
May 12th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I pretty much name everything, mostly after presidents or world leaders (with a few expecptions). Here are some examples:
Mini Cooper: Huck Finn
Macbook: Churchill
iPhone: Franklin
iPad 3G: Ike
Mac Mini: Madison (really short President, really small computer)
iPod Nano: Atlee
Fujitsu Lifebook: Jefferson
Wii: Adams
But some of my names are just more ridiculous
Drobo: Toaster (because it kind of looks that way)
Series of computer that I built myself (Bertha, Big Bertha, Bertha Magnum, Bertha Revolution)
Did I mention that I name everything.
May 12th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
MacBook Pro: Meddle
MSI Wind Netbook: Idefix
Mac Pro: Atom Heart Mother
Athlon 64 Windows 7 Desktop: Sisyphus
May 13th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Laptop – Lapie
Webserver – Webserverie
Netbook – Nettie
NAS – NASie
Database Server – Databasie
Phone – Phonie
MAIN PC – Galactica
There’s a logic in there
May 13th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Desktop – Orion
Laptop – Aurora
Bedroom computer – Nebula2
These are share names too so I can pop a copy of my development environment to Aurora using SyncToy 2.1 and UNC names like \\aurora\cdrive\report. I can also look at the files nebula2 downloads the same way, (it runs bittorrent and a media server for my D-Link DSM520 media box) or just use the drive I mapped to it.
UNC = Universal Naming convention.
May 14th, 2010 at 4:33 am
I stuck with an Apple theme and named my Macbook Pro “Strudel” and my Time Capsule is Dumpling
May 15th, 2010 at 8:22 am
My main system is called Deusex, as in deus ex machina, because it miraculously solves so many problems. I used to name my computers somewhat more individually, but modern systems don’t have enough glitches to show much personality, and so don’t really beg to be named.
June 29th, 2010 at 11:49 am
HD 1: Ooh Pick me Pick me!!
HD 2: Chugga Choo (backup drive)
HD 3: Little Engine that Could
HD 4: Hot Mama
HD 5: 11 Studios
HD 6: BFL Designs
Network Name: Damn… they saw us
Mac Pro: MelonPoppi
PC Desktop: Workhorse
Flash Drive: Little helper
Flash Drive 2: Gucci
August 19th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I call them all Bob, I have no idea why
January 26th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
iPhone 2G – Redmond
iPhone 4 – Redmond4
Droid Incredible – Vader
ThinkPad T410 – Atlas2
ThinkPad SL400 – Atlas
Acer Netbook – LittleAce
Dell Vostro 1500 – Dilbert
Dell Optiplex – Asok
Ancient Gateway Laptop – Wally (Because it didn’t do anything anymore)
Ancient Compaq Presario – Tank
February 18th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
[…] to Tom. Apparently, he names all his gadgets. Ziggy – The Original Android […]
March 20th, 2011 at 1:40 am
Lame but true:
Desktop – Dad
Laptop – Mom
Netbook – Sister
Mobile – Baby
PS3 – God
April 21st, 2011 at 3:27 pm
I’m going for a bit of a Jedi theme. My accounts are always one ‘Master’ (Admin) and one ‘Apprentice’ (User), and my devices are named for virtuous states of mind like ‘Serenity’ (my current desktop) or ‘Courage’ (my netbook).
My home network is ‘TK-421’, I’ve had some trouble in the past with networks just disappearing when I was counting on them and of course suffering from faulty radios.
I don’t really name my mobile devices, like phones and mp3 players, perhaps because they never really show up on my network so I never really notice. They aren’t as integrated, more like satellites. I shall consider naming my Android phone, if I can even figure out where that setting would be.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:26 am
I named my Lenovo laptop, Leo. A big fan of Leonardo Dicaprio obviously. :-)