this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2025
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My comment from last time this was posted.
The most commonly cited monitor in recent years for this is “AW3423DWF”… Which is AlienWare 34" from 2023, DisplayPort, WQHD, Freesync.
Point is, people see a lot of characters and complain when in reality it is exactly what you are referring to. The name is an encoded version of its capabilities. Its just that the encoding isn’t always clear because if every company used the same encoding they would have the same name. and if there are 2 similar monitors you would need to have every feature in the name to differentiate them, so the shorthand encoding becomes necessary. (Eg, AW3423DW and AW3423DWF only really differ on freesync vs gsync, thus the F at the end)
I get the logic here but I just don’t think most people think like this. Products are called the “Honda Accord” and the “Apple iPhone” and the “Cordless handheld vacuum” for a reason.
Maybe these code names make sense for the actual engineers working on them. But only the nerdiest of the nerdiest of nerdy consumers will remember a couple of these names. In my line of work I’ve spent a couple decades with a ton of regular folks, non-techy people. You might be surprised how many of them can barely remember what number of iPhone they’re on, and don’t even think about asking them which version of iOS is installed.
TBC: This is not a knock against people who aren’t neck-deep in every industry of every product they own. I couldn’t tell you which engine is in my Hyundai Tuscon or which generation of motor is in my cordless vacuum.
I just think these names are gibberish, probably greenlit by people who don’t think about this stuff. But they aren’t effective names for regular consumers.
As an IT person who has to tell a non it purchasing department what to buy, no. The code names are specific things that return the exact thing you want when searched on stuff like CDW and B&H, and having to explain exact drive space, memory, ecc vs non ecc would be torture. A simple code they can just copy and paste and get exactly what you want is far more efficient.
Totally get that, makes a lot of sense. Although my original point wasn’t about professionals in technical or business settings, I was talking about regular folks. These are consumer products but they’re commonly referred to with technical/engineering names. I think it feels clunky and makes it tough for regular folks to talk about these.
When people tell their friends they got a new iPhone, they don’t say “awe check it out I got the new MYWD3LL/A.” They just say “I got the iPhone 16 Pro Max.” Simple language. There’s gotta be a middle ground here for regular folks.
I can get that, but personally I haven't had much issue myself. I have 2 Samsung 34" ultrawide screens, and their model is LC33G55TWWN. I just tell people what I said before, 34" Samsung Ultrawides. They do have an easier name: Samsung 34” Odyssey G5 Ultrawides. Many others can be as ambiguous as your iPhone example, which also will have multiple actual model numbers, like A3084, A3295, A3296, A3297. Some are for specific regions, while one is global. You don't need to share that with others, but can be important in technical situations.
Most computer hardware I deal with have both friendly names and technical model numbers, like almost everything, from car parts, engine models, to washer and dryer parts. I had to use model numbers to find the right replacement lint filter on my dryer, instead of guessing on Amazon.
I suppose I don't understand the complaint, as friendly names definitely exist, while model numbers are extremely useful.