Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by Bo102010 on Friday April 15, 2011 @01:01AM
(#2449495)
Is there a good name for a spreadsheet application besides "Spreadsheet?"
"VisiCalc" was the first one on a PC, "Lotus 1-2-3" became popular later, "Excel" is now the dominant one...
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by heyitsnick on Friday April 15, 2011 @05:43AM
(#2449952)
In all seriousness, what's the problem calling it "LibreOffice Spreadsheets"? Along with "LibreOffice Presentations", "LibreOffce Documents", "LibreOffice Databases"; are we so pressed for space we can't just say exactly what it is? The "name" is libreoffice, I don't see why the individual components have to be unique or catchy.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by Egregore on Friday April 15, 2011 @10:06AM
(#2450576)
May be they didn't want it to be confused with spreadshit?
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by tincholio on Friday April 15, 2011 @01:14AM
(#2449511)
For windows users in particular, the bundled calculator is called calc.exe. That alone might create confusion. Besides, "Calc" does have a "Calculator" feel when you read it. A comparable thing would be to have a text editor named "Term", or "Conso". Any unix user might expect those to fire of a CLI, not an editor. This is comparable, IMO.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by Prolorn on Friday April 15, 2011 @01:37AM
(#2449561)
Apple has "Numbers", which seems as good a name for a spreadsheet program as any, to me.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by SpookyAction on Friday April 15, 2011 @06:10AM
(#2449992)
I don't see how "Numbers" is any more intuitive than "Calc", not that Calc is really a good name for a spreadsheet application, but at least it makes sense. Spreadsheets do calculate things, it's just the name collision with the Windows app calc and the fact most people associate calculating with, well a calculator. Calc may be a poor name for a spreadsheet app but Numbers is definitely worse.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by Terretta on Friday April 15, 2011 @09:20AM
(#2450426)
> I don't see how "Numbers" is any more intuitive than "Calc"
In an office, ask a bookkeeper, sales manager, whomever, "Hey, show me the numbers!", and you're going to see a spreadsheet. If you ask, "Hey, show me the calc!", you'll get a blank look.
Evidence suggests "Numbers" is a perfectly cromulent word.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by Bo102010 on Friday April 15, 2011 @10:11PM
(#2452966)
Where I've worked, you'd be more likely to see a spreadsheet poorly pasted into a PowerPoint presentation with a poorly scaled bitmap of a logo in the corner that is a 6 MiB attachment to an email...
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by SpookyAction on Friday April 15, 2011 @04:59PM
(#2452188)
Your worthy point embiggens us all.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by cookiecaper on Friday April 15, 2011 @01:06AM
(#2449502)
"Gnumeric" at least has something to do with the task, and "KSpread" is basically "spreadsheet"
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by nl on Friday April 15, 2011 @02:37AM
(#2449647)
Gnumeric only makes sense if you know how to pronounce "gnu".
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by SpookyAction on Friday April 15, 2011 @06:21AM
(#2450014)
That's one thing that always bugged me about Linux desktops. I've been using Linux as my desktop OS since Debian 2.0 and the naming convention tendencies of desktop environments are counterintuitive to non-Linux users. The uninitiated just don't know what GNU is or the differences between KDE and GNOME, other than how they look and feel. If Linux desktops are aiming for usability, naming everything Gnusomething, Ksomesomthing or Gsomething is just a poor choice for application names.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by rm445 on Sunday April 17, 2011 @08:17AM
(#2456007)
Really? Someone who said 'Gee-numeric', or who just assumed the 'G' is silent, would get the gist of it.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by Sandman on Friday April 15, 2011 @03:30AM
(#2449755)
Funny enough, spreadsheet applications are called "table calculators" in my language, so naming it "Calc" makes perfect sense to me :). I can see how it would make much less sense to a native english speaker, though. Anyway, perhaps "LibreOffice Sheets" would be an improvement on the name of this app.
Re:Ubuntu Unity usability testing results and analysis
by kami8845 on Friday April 15, 2011 @04:58AM
(#2449893)
I think almost anyone that knows the English word calculator will assume at first it is just that. (at least I did)
"Calc" is just not a smart name for a spreadsheet application.
> and P7 and P9 thought Ubuntu Software Center was the Recycle Bin.
I understand that, because that is what the icon looks like.