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Mandrakesoft Changes Name to Mandriva

Posted by Zonk on from the shiny-new-namespace dept.

joestar writes "Following its recent merger with Conectiva, Mandrakesoft has decided to change its name to 'Mandriva' for two reasons: "1. The recent Mandrakesoft - Conectiva merger calls for a new identity that better represents the combination of two key companies and their global presence. 2. The long-winding trademark lawsuit with Hearst Corporation has reached a point where we decided it is more reasonable for us to move forward.". Mandrake is dead, long life to Mandriva!"

6 of 458 comments (clear)

  1. Man-driva! by nightsweat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Man...driva, wider than a mile
    I'm crossing you in style, someday

    This is a belated April Fool's joke, right? That's the dumbest name since International Harvester became Navistar.

    --

    the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
  2. Re:Well by eln · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Company names should be fairly nonsensical like this. Naming the company something Linux-ish ties them to exclusively Linux-based products. This is a bad idea not because it's Linux, but because it ties the company to a particular type of product, which limits their ability to spread the brand to other products. Note that most of the "Linux only" companies of the dot-com era (the ones that actually survived) changed their names to something more generic.

  3. Re:Represents WHAT??? by 0racle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, its a terrible name that one does not associate with Linux. They should have chosen a name like Maya, Excel, Trivoli, Firefox, Bryce or Java. You know names that don't just set a product apart but immediatly discribe what it does.

    --
    "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
  4. Re:Well by Garg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not to mention the Google factor... a made-up name ensures anyone looking for you will find you without a bunch of irrelevant hits.

    Garg

    --
    Garg
    Alumnus, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
  5. Quickly browsing the dictionary... by emil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A little too close for comfort.

    drivel - To slobber; drool. To flow like spittle or saliva. To talk stupidly or childishly.

    trivia - Something of small importance.

  6. Cthulhu Linux by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 3, Insightful

    >Bonus would be the slogan, "Cthulhu Linux, it'll suck your face off."

    I like it. I can think of several other excellent marketing themes:
    • Cthulhu Linux - Use it or else.
    • Cthulhu Linux vs. Microsoft - Why settle for the lesser evil?
    • Cthulhu Linux - Bringing the fear of computers back into your life.
    • Cthulhu Linux - Wait 'til you experience our Blue Screen of Death.
    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.