Linux's Difficulty with Names

JohnTyler writes "This article at XYZ Computing takes a look at Linux's strange naming practices. When compared to their Window's equivalents, the names of many Linux programs are difficult to recognize and even tougher to remember. This may seem like splitting hairs, but it is actually an important usability issue. Just think, if you had to do a bit of graphic design which would be easier to pick out of the menu, GIMP or Photoshop? Or if you wanted to play a song, Media Player or xine?" The article is a bit thin, but it raises an excellent point.

Comments

Corrected post!

[Overly Critical Guy]

Here, let me correct you, since you took the liberty of relying on the Windows apps' executable filenames and not their actual names while making sure the Linux names were all correctly capitalized with more descriptive names. The most obvious your renaming of Windows Media Player to "wmp." If this is the level of truth-twisting fanatical hysteria that comes from defending Linux on the desktop, average users will just stay away even more than they already do:

Web Browser
Windows: iexpore, Opera, Mozilla, Firefox
Linux: Opera Web Browser, Mozilla Web Browser, Firefox Web Browser

Internet Explorer, Opera, Mozilla, Firefox vs. Opera, Mozilla, Firefox

Graphics Editing
Windows: photoshop (a place to buy photos?), illustrator
Linux: GIMP Image Editor

Photoshop, Illustrator vs. GIMP (an app to edit photos of gimps?)

Movie Playback
Windows: wmp
Linux: Totem Movie Player, MPlayer, Xine, VLC Media Player

Windows Media Player, Media Player Classic vs. Totem, Mplayer, Xine, VLC

DVD Playback:
Windows: WinDVD (what titles can I win?), wmp
Linux: Totem Movie Player, Xine, VLC Media Player

WinDVD, Windows Media Player, CyberDVD, Media Player Classic vs. Totem (totem pole?), Xine (how is this pronounced, anyway?), VLC

Simple Text Editing
Windows: Notepad, Wordpad, TextPad
Linux: Text Editor

Windows: Notepad, Wordpad, Textpad vs. Linux: vi, Emacs, Pico

Instant Messaging
Windows: AIM
Linux: Gaim Internet Messenger

Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Trillian vs. GAIM

Music Playback:
Windows: wmp, Itunes (you tunes we all tunes to Itunes), WinAmp (I don't want Windows louder)
Linux: Beep Media Player, Rhythmbox Music Player

Windows Media Player, iTunes, Winamp vs. Beep (it only plays beeps?), Rhythmbox

CD Ripping:
Windows: Itunes, wmp
Linux: Sound Juicer CD Ripper

iTunes, Windows Media Player vs. Sound Juicer, CDParanoia

CD Burning
Windows: Roxio, Nero
Linux: Gnome Toaster, Serpentine Audio CD Creator, Nero

Easy CD Creator, Nero Burning Rom vs. Toaster, Serpentine, Nero