4 ms·

There's a lot of truth in that. This reminds me of an old interview with Linus saying that while he thought the Windows logo was ok (he might have said good, I

There's a lot of truth in that. This reminds me of an old interview with Linus saying that while he thought the Windows logo was ok (he might have said good, I don't remember), you can't really do anything with it, while you can do put Tux is all sort of situations. It was quite common to see him playing ice hockey or reading a book or whatever -- if you knew the logo (Tux) you knew it was Linux-related.

silentbicycle 16y ago
Unlike the Windows logo, Tux is also a mascot. I can't picture the Windows logo playing hockey. It doesn't even have legs. (I can picture Clippy, though. Argh.)
jtbigwoo 16y ago
I disagree. The Windows logo is just a cross in a box with multi-colored panels. You can twist, turn, bend, or re-color it considerably before it's unrecognizable. When they've wanted to make their images more dynamic, they've curved the lines. When they've wanted to look more professional they've muted the colors and outlines. It's still clearly a divided four-panel window. In contrast, Tux seems a bit stuck. It's going to be hard to make him anything but cute and cuddly. A more stylized penguin would look cold and sinister.
- stuhacking 16y ago
  Since Windows 95, I've always looked at is as a flag. Even the Windows Logo screensaver had it waving like a flag. I can honestly say, I've never looked at the logo and thought "Hey! That's a window." But that's just me. I did a google image search for 'Tux' - I think it demonstrates the versatility of having a living character as a logo. You can put him in lots of different situations and it's still clear that he's the 'Linux Penguin'.
- DougBTX 16y ago
  http://www.vistawallpaper.org/vista-wallpapers/windows-glass.jpg http://www.vistawallpaper.org/vista-wallpapers/windows-glass...
- Tyrannosaurs 16y ago
  How the Windows logo has evolved: http://people.mozilla.com/~faaborg/files/20090515-evolvingProductBrand/windowsEvolution.png_large.png http://people.mozilla.com/~faaborg/files/20090515-evolvingPr... Ironically from a good article on mozilla.com, talking about how they're evolving the Firefox icon: http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2009/05/14/evolving-a-product-brand/ http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2009/05/14/evolving-a-produc... Of the examples they give Windows is notable as being the logo which has undergone the most significant changes (while still remaining recognisable).
- SeanLuke 16y ago
  > In contrast, Tux seems a bit stuck. It's going to be hard to make him anything but cute and cuddly. I smell a photoshop contest.
  - jerf 16y ago
    No need to call a special one: http://images.google.com/images?q=tux http://images.google.com/images?q=tux Whether this proves or disproves the point probably depends more on your personal definition of "cute and cuddly".
    - andfarm 16y ago
      Interestingly, that image search shows the Crystal Tux designs (one shows up second in that search for me - it's shiny, rounder, and has unevenly sized eyes) is nearly as popular as the classic Larry Ewing design in adaptations.

silentbicycle 16y ago

Unlike the Windows logo, Tux is also a mascot. I can't picture the Windows logo playing hockey. It doesn't even have legs. (I can picture Clippy, though. Argh.)

jtbigwoo 16y ago

I disagree. The Windows logo is just a cross in a box with multi-colored panels. You can twist, turn, bend, or re-color it considerably before it's unrecognizable. When they've wanted to make their images more dynamic, they've curved the lines. When they've wanted to look more professional they've muted the colors and outlines. It's still clearly a divided four-panel window. In contrast, Tux seems a bit stuck. It's going to be hard to make him anything but cute and cuddly. A more stylized penguin would look cold and sinister.

stuhacking 16y ago
Since Windows 95, I've always looked at is as a flag. Even the Windows Logo screensaver had it waving like a flag. I can honestly say, I've never looked at the logo and thought "Hey! That's a window." But that's just me. I did a google image search for 'Tux' - I think it demonstrates the versatility of having a living character as a logo. You can put him in lots of different situations and it's still clear that he's the 'Linux Penguin'.
DougBTX 16y ago
http://www.vistawallpaper.org/vista-wallpapers/windows-glass.jpg http://www.vistawallpaper.org/vista-wallpapers/windows-glass...
Tyrannosaurs 16y ago
How the Windows logo has evolved: http://people.mozilla.com/~faaborg/files/20090515-evolvingProductBrand/windowsEvolution.png_large.png http://people.mozilla.com/~faaborg/files/20090515-evolvingPr... Ironically from a good article on mozilla.com, talking about how they're evolving the Firefox icon: http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2009/05/14/evolving-a-product-brand/ http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2009/05/14/evolving-a-produc... Of the examples they give Windows is notable as being the logo which has undergone the most significant changes (while still remaining recognisable).
SeanLuke 16y ago
> In contrast, Tux seems a bit stuck. It's going to be hard to make him anything but cute and cuddly. I smell a photoshop contest.
- jerf 16y ago
  No need to call a special one: http://images.google.com/images?q=tux http://images.google.com/images?q=tux Whether this proves or disproves the point probably depends more on your personal definition of "cute and cuddly".
  - andfarm 16y ago
    Interestingly, that image search shows the Crystal Tux designs (one shows up second in that search for me - it's shiny, rounder, and has unevenly sized eyes) is nearly as popular as the classic Larry Ewing design in adaptations.