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I don't like the name. It sounds too technical. How about "Insteadsheet"? Because that's really what you are, right? Edit: Some elaboration. I'm a branding guy

by rriepe 16y ago

I don't like the name. It sounds too technical. How about "Insteadsheet"? Because that's really what you are, right? Edit: Some elaboration. I'm a branding guy, and this site has a branding problem. Hypernumbers doesn't really describe the product. There's two elephants in the room that the site doesn't even address: Excel and Google Docs. A name like Insteadsheet addresses that all by itself. It becomes the fun, easy alternative. The complaint of "too technical" gets downvotes here on HN, but I feel like that isn't the market they're after.

revorad 16y ago
To be honest, Insteadsheet sounds a lot worse than Hypernumbers. Names don't have to describe products. It's funny you talk about Excel - the word Excel itself does not describe spreadsheets! Is a negative of another product really the best way to go about branding? I can't think of a single good example.
- rriepe 16y ago
  You're right. I really meant to say that Hypernumbers implies something else (an app dedicated to advanced math, perhaps?), not that it isn't descriptive. Insteadsheet would indeed be a ballsy name, incorporating the "We're the anti-Excel/Google Spreadsheets" feel right into the name. LessEverything is closest to the approach that I can think of. I stand behind it. And I doubly stand behind not being the guy who just says "The name sucks!" without offering any alternatives.
  - revorad 16y ago
    The more I think of it, the more I like the name Hypernumbers. It has the word hyper in it - it's exciting! And the acronym is HN. A tribute to Hacker News, perhaps?
- davnola 16y ago
  "Insteadsheet" sounds stilted and dead on the tongue. "Hypernumbers" has rhythm and asonance. Also, can we please have some care over use/mention here, Quine's turning in his grave!
- notahacker 16y ago
  Am I the only one that likes them both? It's easy enough to stick with Hypernumbers (the better URL) and use "insteadsheet" as a catchy tongue-in-cheek description of what the product actually is.
geoffw8 16y ago
good name, please don't change it.
olliesaunders 16y ago
Hypernumbers describes the product pretty well to me. To me, Hypernumbers implies a union between numbers and hypertext. Isn't that what it is? It also sounds pretty cool.

by rriepe 16y ago

revorad 16y ago

To be honest, Insteadsheet sounds a lot worse than Hypernumbers. Names don't have to describe products. It's funny you talk about Excel - the word Excel itself does not describe spreadsheets! Is a negative of another product really the best way to go about branding? I can't think of a single good example.

rriepe 16y ago
You're right. I really meant to say that Hypernumbers implies something else (an app dedicated to advanced math, perhaps?), not that it isn't descriptive. Insteadsheet would indeed be a ballsy name, incorporating the "We're the anti-Excel/Google Spreadsheets" feel right into the name. LessEverything is closest to the approach that I can think of. I stand behind it. And I doubly stand behind not being the guy who just says "The name sucks!" without offering any alternatives.
- revorad 16y ago
  The more I think of it, the more I like the name Hypernumbers. It has the word hyper in it - it's exciting! And the acronym is HN. A tribute to Hacker News, perhaps?
davnola 16y ago
"Insteadsheet" sounds stilted and dead on the tongue. "Hypernumbers" has rhythm and asonance. Also, can we please have some care over use/mention here, Quine's turning in his grave!
notahacker 16y ago
Am I the only one that likes them both? It's easy enough to stick with Hypernumbers (the better URL) and use "insteadsheet" as a catchy tongue-in-cheek description of what the product actually is.

geoffw8 16y ago

good name, please don't change it.

olliesaunders 16y ago

Hypernumbers describes the product pretty well to me. To me, Hypernumbers implies a union between numbers and hypertext. Isn't that what it is? It also sounds pretty cool.