What's the difference between a Widget and a Gadget ?

Tubular

For an upcoming project I'm interested in perception of "widget" vs "gadget"

I'm more interested in your intuitive understanding, rather than dictionary definitions.

From my point of view a widget is a bit more mechanical, and a gadget is more electronic, but it may be a generational thing??

thanks in advance
tubular

bill190

A widget is something which would be discussed by business·and high finance types.

A gadget would be worked on in a person's garage.

But if you ask me, either one could be considered a "thingamajig"!·

PJAllen

A widget is purely theoretical, gadgets abound.

Unsoundcode

I would probably say a widget is the software equivalent of a hardware device and a gadget is a tool usually an electro/mechanical device .

Jeff T.

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

A "widget" is that little white ball they put in bottles of Guiness to aid the foaming process. "Gadget" is an inspector of cartoon fame. 'Anything else you need to know?

-Phil

Tubular

hmmm interesting. Keep 'em coming!...

John R.

Assuming you were after a serious answer:

A "widget" is purely fictional, and used in business (and other) discussions as an abstract reference to "something" that is being made, bought, sold, etc. This is done to allow those involved to focus on the business discussion (often process definition and improvements) without getting bogged down in how a specific "something" is made. It also allows discussion with folks from very different business backgrounds without limiting the discussion to a specific product.

A "gadget" usually represents something "real" somewhere, like "we have a gadget that strips wire and attaches a terminal", or "Can you make me a gadget to hold wires while I solder them to a circuit board?"

See also whatchamacallit, thingamabob, doohickey, etc.

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Bob Lawrence (VE1RLL)

re: "widget" vs "gadget"


1th try: A widget always uses a do flicker but a gadget uses a Whatchamacallit. Hopefully that cleared it up for you.

WBA Consulting

A widget is a what you call a gadget before it's not yet physically in existence (still in design). However, I have seen the terms used in this way:

A widget is used to describe a function of a device or piece of software that fills a special need. A gadget is very similar, except that it can perform several functions to fulfill several needs with a single tool. In other words, a calibrated torque wrench may be called a widget, but a swiss army knife would be called a gadget.


However, my wife has it figured out perfectly. The difference is wi and ga.

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erco

So is an iPhone "app" (there's an app for that) a widget or a gadget? Or something altogether different?

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W9GFO

I think of a widget as something that is hypothetical - undefined - it can't be described.

Rich H

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Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Many confuse widgets with widgeons. Here's a widgeon:



Notice that it doesn't look anything like a widget.

Likewise "gadget" sounds a lot like "Gidget"; but, again, the resemblance is remote, at best:



Moreover, Sandra Dee never had a role playing Inspector Gadget.

-Phil

Cluso99

Phil: That widgeon looks more like a wood duck LOL

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Tubular

Lol, Phil!

I glean from everyone's responses that widgets are very theoretical/hypothetical. I guess that means the Inspector Gadget show would have been "Inspector Widget" during workshopping...

Thanks for your responses.
tubular

Nick McClick

I should check to see if widgetgangster.com has been taken...

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mctrivia

it is but if you want it better to get first before suggesting it.

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Tubular

Nick McClick said...
I should check to see if widgetgangster.com has been taken...

You could use widgetgangster for all your prototyping, then switch the projects across as they become tangible...

I must say I'm surprised because I always believed a widget was real gizmo, and somewhat interchangable with a gadget. I'm not sure if its just me, my generation, or my country which is so out of step. Probably just me!

I was surprised when "enwidget.com" was available and tacked it onto another order some time ago

Nick I've got a new design for your site so will be in contact shortly

cheers
tubular

Nick McClick

I'll pass on widgetgangster. I am holding on to turdtime.com, though...

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