XYplorer Beta Club

A potato isn't a bad thing. I also can see a large white kidney bean, also nice when you have it. At first I had a rockier rock but it wasn't as pleasing graphically. But thanks for your inspired opinion. Bon apetito.

I liked the grass or woman better than the rock. Grass was kind of neutral, woman had a better appeal, the current rock (pebble) is kind of OK, not great.
I guess we can have couple of samples from you like we did for XY logo (which is great) and can decide upon something fair. Just a thought.

PS: Did you try a horse? I've always imagined XY as a horse: the Workhorse, the Beast, Solid, Fast, Elegant.
I once made a XY wallpaper with speeding black horse with XY branded over it. Can't seem to find on my PC now.

Or what about a sailing ship (XYplorer) in a heavy thunderstorm?

I replaced the Zen-Potato by something more Jurassic. And doesn't it look like a mountain on all non-first pages? Nice example for fractality and self-similarity.

Yeah but now it definitely doesn't look portable at all - no way I'm lugging that boulder in my messenger bag!

TheQwerty wrote:Yeah but now it definitely doesn't look portable at all - no way I'm lugging that boulder in my messenger bag!

Hehe, it's just 6 cm across! On my screen it's shown almost perfectly in original size.

admin wrote:I replaced the Zen-Potato by something more Jurassic. And doesn't it look like a mountain on all non-first pages? Nice example for fractality and self-similarity.

I like the analogy with caveman's stone tool.

serendipity wrote:

admin wrote:I replaced the Zen-Potato by something more Jurassic. And doesn't it look like a mountain on all non-first pages? Nice example for fractality and self-similarity.

I like the analogy with caveman's stone tool.

Yep, simple and effective.

serendipity wrote:

admin wrote:I replaced the Zen-Potato by something more Jurassic. And doesn't it look like a mountain on all non-first pages? Nice example for fractality and self-similarity.

I like the analogy with caveman's stone tool.

Guess the rock is a bit too large to photoshop onto it a USB plug? So it looks like a thumb drive...Ok, so maybe it's a weird idea but...

j_c_hallgren wrote:

serendipity wrote:

admin wrote:I replaced the Zen-Potato by something more Jurassic. And doesn't it look like a mountain on all non-first pages? Nice example for fractality and self-similarity.

I like the analogy with caveman's stone tool.

Guess the rock is a bit too large to photoshop onto it a USB plug? So it looks like a thumb drive...Ok, so maybe it's a weird idea but...

Might work as well, but I think it's stronger without narrowing down the possible connotations. There's a nice under-the-hood opposition between software and a stone, and that would be lost by marking the stone as hardware.

For what it's worth, I don't like that rock. With no object to relate to, it's easy to assume that it's a big rock. Thus, does it mean that software is "big" and "heavy"? The rock is uneven, its surface is rough and it's multi-cornered. None of those give a positive impression. It's not elegant either, it's lumpy. The "rock solid with a picture of a rock" parallel is also a bit too banal, a tad cheesy. However, I do appreciate that it's a difficult area to delve into and I don't claim to be an expert in marketing

zer0 wrote:For what it's worth, I don't like that rock. With no object to relate to, it's easy to assume that it's a big rock. Thus, does it mean that software is "big" and "heavy"? The rock is uneven, its surface is rough and it's multi-cornered. None of those give a positive impression. It's not elegant either, it's lumpy. The "rock solid with a picture of a rock" parallel is also a bit too banal, a tad cheesy. However, I do appreciate that it's a difficult area to delve into and I don't claim to be an expert in marketing

Rational and emotional associations will differ from person to person, but I think most people should find that rock strong, surprising (in the context), and (hence) memorable -- which is already something. That the rock is rough, dirty, and "not elegant" should reduce the admitted banality of the idea a bit. It's kind of bold to try to sell something using such a non-sexy model. The irony should be perceivable to a sufficient number of visitors.

serendipity wrote:Neither. Put a beast in there, something like a horse for example: Powerful, elegant, graceful, fast.
People like to relate to a mascot and XY could have one. Just my opinion.

Here's one you can have for free, and I would be proud to contribute it - does it look explorer-like enough? I have a hi-res of it, too
Regards Emil

Kucera wrote:

serendipity wrote:Neither. Put a beast in there, something like a horse for example: Powerful, elegant, graceful, fast.
People like to relate to a mascot and XY could have one. Just my opinion.

Here's one you can have for free, and I would be proud to contribute it - does it look explorer-like enough? I have a hi-res of it, too
Regards Emil

2007-09-16 18-34-07.jpg

I suppose you are sitting on that horse? Wow!

But not for my website. Believe or not, I like the stone and will keep it for a while.

admin wrote: I suppose you are sitting on that horse? Wow!

Yes I am! You would not think in the middle of the prairies there are spots like that , but yes, these are our 'upside down' hills, the river valleys (Souris R., Manitoba, Canada)

admin wrote:But not for my website. Believe or not, I like the stone and will keep it for a while.

Sure, why not? You were the one who started the thread and gave me the chance to show off my buddy Thunder, at least to the Beta Club. Good to have you back, hope you had a nice vacation!
Regards Emil