Dell was mocked at its own press launch for copying Apples iPhone naming convention for its PCs. Both laptop and desktop PCs are now divided into three tiers, whose names are taken straight from the iPhone line-up: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max.Despite claiming it did this purely for simplicity, and not to copy Apple, Dell actually managed to make its PC line-up even less comprehensible than before Bloomberg reports that Dell is abandoning its own sub-brands, like XPS and Inspiron, in favor of the new naming convention.Now, most of the companys new PCs will be divided into three tiers: Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max []Customers really prefer names that are easy to remember and easy to pronounce, Chief Operating OfficerJeff Clarkesaid during a briefing with reporters ahead of the show. Buyers shouldnt have to spend time figuring out our nomenclature, which at times has been a bit confusing, he said.If Dell hoped nobody would notice the origin of these names, it was disappointed.I am wondering why you guys didnt choose something original, because you essentially have Apples branding here, one audience member quipped. Another said your branding sounds a lot like Apple arent you just following them?The new tiers dont even simplify things for buyers, because all three tiers are sub-divided into Base, Plus, and Premium variants. Is a Pro Plus better than a Pro Max Base? How about a Pro Premium versus Pro Max Plus?Engadget notes that things descend entirely into farce when Dell also throws in size labels for its desktop PCs.Just try to read the names Dell Pro Max Micro and Dell Pro Max Mini without having your brain self destruct [] And yes, you can expect those machines to have their own plus and premium sub-branding.So yes, there really is going to be a Dell Pro Max Micro Plus.Its worse than Apples Mac model names in the 1990s (Macintosh IIvx, Macintosh Centris/Quadra 610, PowerBook Duo 280c, and so on) before Steve returned and tore them all up.Photo: DellAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel