My Hardware Family

My hardware journey is personal. Here’s why:

I name my gadgets. Always have. Each name? A story. A memory. A connection.

Started in 2017. First major purchase: Sony WH-1000XM2. Named it Ethi - inspired by Simbu’s character in CCV movie. Still works great.

Every device? Part of the family. Each with its own personality.

The iPad is Lucas for me. 8th Generation. Perfect for sketching. Reading. Learning.

Main workhorse? Hooper. M1 MacBook Air. Named after the Stranger Things character. Does the heavy lifting. Daily experiments. Coding sessions.

Work companion? Company MacBook Pro. Keeps work separate. Maintains balance.

Phone evolution interesting. Current daily driver? Carte - named after the MIT Workshop where I instructed. Started with Cooper (Nexus 5x), moved through the Pixel family with Chomp, Pam, and Sr. Chomp. Now? Carte continues the pure Android legacy with Pixel 6. Clean experience. Great camera.

Audio matters. Teaching needs quality. Bought Blue Yeti. Named it Yalan. Hey Sinamika reference. Records Droidcon courses. YouTube content.

Current Family Members:

Daily Drivers

• Hooper: MacBook Air M1 (2021) - My experimental playground
• Carte: Pixel 6 (2023) - Primary smartphone
• Lucas: iPad 8th Gen (2022) - Creative companion
• Yalan: Blue Yeti (2023) - Voice of my content
• Bumblebee Green Soul Monster Ultimate Series T (2023) - An Office Chair for long sitting all day
• Optimus Prime Green Soul Surface Multipurpose Desk Electric Height Adjustable Computer Office Gaming Table (2024) - A new standing desk that transforms its shape every 30 mins

Entertainment Squad

• Dustin: Sony Bravia 4K 43X80G (2019) - Movie nights master
• Fring: Google Chromecast 2 (2016) - Stream team captain
• Murphy: Kindle (2016) - Book buddy

Audio Crew

• Ethi: Sony WH-1000XM2 (2017) - My first premium audio friend
• Veera: Pixel buds pro (2023) - Latest audio upgrade another perfect gift from my wife.

Smart Home Team

• Horsemen: Google Home (2017) - Command center, named after Four Horsemen from Now You See Me
• Pearl: Google Home Mini (2019) - Desk Assistant, keeping math and timers in check
• Buffy: Nest mini (2020) - Bedroom buddy, named after the vampire slayer
• HanyBird: iRobot 976 (2020) - Floor cleaning friend, quietly doing its job
• Jon Snow: LG AC (2019) - Setting the room right always
• Neel: Bluestar AC (2023) - Climate controller, keeping cool under pressure

Wearable Squad

• Ned: Galaxy Watch 4 - Time keeper
• Expecting a new one here ;)

Transport Division

• Victoria: Honda City 5th Gen (2020) - Four-wheel friend
• Luck: Ather 450x (2023) - Electric dream
• Sky Gazer: Rockrider ST30 MTB (2022) - Pedal power

Retired Veterans (In loving memory):

• Hank: Sennheiser CX 7.00BT - 2015 - 2017: Early audio adventures
• Cooper: Nexus 5x - 2015 - 2017: Started the pure Android journey
• Harley: Mac 2015 - 2015 - 2020: First Mac love, introduced me to the Apple ecosystem
• Chomp: Pixel 2 - 2017 - 2019: Continued the pure Android experience
• Pam: Pixel 3a XL - 2019 - 2020: Loyal service during the pandemic
• Tickler: TP-Link Router - 2017 - 2021: Network guardian, kept everyone connected till the last day of service
• Sr. Chomp: Pixel 4a - 2020 - 2023: Photography companion through many adventures
• Elsa: Pixel A series buds - 2021 - 2023: Daily commute companion, now serving my dad well
• Sheldon: Fossil Gen 5 - 2021 - 2023: A thoughtful gift from my wife, replaced with Ned for better Android integration
• Juno: Honda Unicorn - 2017 - 2024: Two-wheel companion that served faithfully until the very end

Few things I’ve learned:

• Name with meaning. Each gadget gets a personality. Makes tech personal. Creates connection.
• Keep memories. Old devices tell stories. Track progress. Remember journey.
• Quality matters. Ethi still works. Good investment lasts.
• Evolution not revolution. Started small. Grew thoughtfully. Each addition purposeful.
• Workspace balance. Separate work and personal devices. Better boundaries. Clear mind.
• Audio first. Good sound changes everything. From Ethi to Yalan. Quality matters.
• Smart upgrades. Each new member fills a need. Solves a problem. Adds value.
• Maintain well. Take care of them. They take care of you. Regular updates. Clean setup.
• Purpose driven. Each device has a role. No unnecessary overlap. Clear function.
• Document journey. Name meanings matter. Stories preserved. Memories intact.

Each name? A chapter. Each device? A companion. They shape how I work and live.

Every gadget has a story. Every story matters. Keep collecting. Keep naming. Keep growing.

P.S. Follow my Twitter for updates on new family members and their naming stories!