Naming a MacBook @ unbiased bias

Naming a MacBook
February 27th, 2007 at 01:54:23 PM

As I wait for my Black MacBook to arrive, I've been collecting desktops, icons, and anything else I can think of to personalize my computing experience. I have a handful of desktops that will go into rotation, a few icon choices for the hard drive, and some applications that will add my personal flare tot he system, but what I'm lacking is a name. My laptop is almost here and it has no name.

To some, this wouldn't be an issue, they'd just leave the default name (Macintosh HD) and go on their merry way. That simply won't do. Coming from a computing background (ISP, domain registrar, web host) I've been naming computers for years. The names, for the most part, don't have anything to do with the computer's function, but is more for remembering what each machine is called so remotely connecting to them is as easy as ssh'ing to 'Hercules' or 'Xerxes'. Standardized naming conventions have their place, but when I'm at home, I don't want a computer named ''LAB102-PHENRY'' or some other mashing of numbers, job, and names. I want it to be simple and memorable.

Some of my previous computers have been named after Gods or other mythical beings like Geryon, Orthrus, and Loki. Some are Superman characters such as Kal-el, Lex, and Bizzaro. No mater what my inspiration, they are all unique and I use them to distinguish between my different computers. Currently, I have 5 computers to keep track of: Lex (primary desktop), Nightshade (powerbook), Kevlar (Mac mini), Draco (web server), and Bizzaro (gaming PC).

So to find a name I turn to a handful of sources such as mythology, obscure words, other languages, characters from stories which I enjoy. It wouldn't be helpful to reuse names due to ambiguity. Think of what would happen if all parents just named their children after the first relative that came to mind: families would have only a few unique names and calling out for ''frank'' at a reunion would turn a lot of heads. The same logic that dictates original baby names dictates my need for a unique identifier for each computer. So Greek, Roman, and Norse gods are all out due to previous computers. I've exhausted Superman characters except the lame ones like Jimmy Olsen.

I'm not sure how to pick a new name. My naming creativity has been untapped and untested for a long time so I'm a bit out of practice. Maybe something will come to me in my sleep or perhaps for the first time in my life, I'll be stuck with 'Macintosh HD'. Only time will tell.

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