Suggest a replacement for the save/floppy disk icon

[Lysander]

I noticed when making a post edit on this site that the save button is still a floppy disk. It's like that still on many pieces of software and many websites the world over.

Nobody uses floppy disks anymore apart from those intro retro-computing [weirdos]. And I think part of the reason why the icon is not replaced is because no-one can think of a suitable replacement.

I've seen, as alternatives, cloud icons used [but these are no good for saving locally], a life-saver ring [awkward] or a downward-facing arrow [which also isn't great].

So what replacements could we suggest?

 

[Lysander]

It's just a symbol.

A lot of younger people have no idea what it is. I asked a work experience girl what she thought it was and she said a SIM card. It's completely irrelevant to today's userbase.

 

[Lysander]

Goalkeepers glove and a football?

Not bad. Not bad.

 

[Lysander]

As long as the symbol is consistent everywhere, does it matter?

If it's a different symbol everywhere then it makes it even more redundant than it is now.

It's not consistent. The disk icon on e.g. this website is very different to a disk icon for eg. Libre Office. You and I can recognise it as a floppy disk because we've both used them.

 

[Lysander]

It's like the symbol for a telephone, who has one of those old analogue phones with the number rings that spins with the big handle?

We still know the symbol for a phone.

The symbol for a phone is generally a handset, and landlines still exist and are used all over the place. I have one right next to me now.

Who uses a floppy disk with such regularity by comparison?

 

[Lysander]

A lot of games just says "saving..." on screen, I guess we can do that.

I do like how the OP DELETED my suggestion of a symbol in his reply and latched on the much SHORTER answer to start this rabit hole of an argument! lol

Oh, sorry. I just thought it was ludicious how anyone could make a statement such as "it's just a symbol" when symbols have immense meaning and power. In fact, a lot of the time that's the entire point of them.

A silicone chip with an arrow isn't a bad suggestion though.

 

[Lysander]

what about a solid black Tetraskelion over a solid white circle with a nice red background..... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh noooooooo

I'm surprised it took this long for Nazism to make it into the thread. Mind you, I was going to mention it back on page 1 but refrained.

 

[Lysander]

What about the "Settings" icon, that is typically represented by a cog? A cog is arguably even more out of date than a floppy disk, I mean when did anyone last change the settings on a computer by adjusting a cog? The point is people associate that icon with "Settings", so it makes sense to keep using it.

A sensible comment? In my thread?