Is Microsoft over using the “Live” term in its product naming? It seems every product Microsoft has coming out with these days is being branded “Live”. Not only is the meaning getting lost the naming of these products really should have been thought out more.
Let’s take a look at a few of these “Live” services.
– Catchy name, right? This must be a terminal server product or some web based way of getting to a Windows client. Is it? No, it is not a hosted version of Windows…This is a new more powerful homepage. Cool, yes! Well named, NO!
– Wow, you are giving me access to Office apps on the web? How cool is that? Um….well actually, No. Office Live is a service for small to medium businesses to setup a web presence. Cool, I guess, for some. Again, a horrible name for an otherwise well intentioned service.
But the confusion doesn’t stop there.
You now have 
and 
which do you get when? And why? What is the difference? Should I care?
This actually isn’t the first time Microsoft has branded several products alike. Years ago we went through the same confusion with .Net…everything coming out was .Net. Visual Studio .Net, Windows Server.Net. You would think Microsoft would have learned its lesson with that fiasco.
Microsoft continues the "Live" trend and now has over 16 products either in beta or shipping that are using the “Live” name and who knows how many others in the works. Take a look at this gallery and tell me if you aren’t just a little confused by the “Live” trend. I for one hope the live trend doesn't live for long.
Live Logo Gallery
Update: Related Microsoft-Watch article - good to see I am not the only one getting worried about this trend.
Posted
Feb 15 2006, 06:29 PM
by
Josh Phillips
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