When I was a consultant for KPMG Peat Marwick we used Macintosh laptops and desktops exclusively for one reason. They were EASY to use. Back in the early nineties not everyone (accountants) knew how to use a computer. So KPMG standardized on Macintosh computers, which had a much more gentle learning curve than Windows-based computers.

I remember going to client-sites where a team of five or six consultants would run telephone wires between each computer and we instantly had a network set up! Each computer recognized all of the other computers, servers AND printers on the network. We could all instantly share files and work on the same documents as needed on the same AppleTalk network.

It was elegant and simple and it just worked. Every flippin’ time.

Then Windows won.

And network managers were needed for even the smallest network. Things got very complicated and the world went dark for many years. It was like one of those post-apocalyptic, Mad-Max movies. Every computer was cut off from the other and each struggled to survive.

But I have found some sunlight! Its like in Waterworld when Kevin Costner finds land! (don’t give me a hard time for the Waterworld citation)

Apple’s Bonjour is JUST like that.

You know that i have been struggling with a new network printer at home for a couple of months. I had a hard time getting it to connect to my network and I spent hours and hours on it. It wasn’t pretty. There was a lot of swearing and howling and gnashing of teeth. But I finally got it connected to my network and when I went to my Macintosh to install the printer, it was already there. Mac OS X had already discovered it! It was a thing of simplicity and beauty.

I lamented that Bonjour wasn’t available for Windows. hah! What a silly idea.

But it isn’t silly. Its for real! They actually make it for Windows! This is amazing!

Here is Apple’s description of Bonjour in a nutshell:

The automatic connection.

Computers and devices with Bonjour automatically broadcast their own services and listen for services being offered for the use of others. Your computer might see a printer available for printing, an iTunes playlist available for listening, an iChat buddy available for video conferencing. Or even another computer available for file sharing.

I installed it on my primary desktop and it added a little find-the-printer wizard to my desktop. I ran it and it instantly discovered my Brother HL-2170W! I asked it to add the printer and (get this) it did. No hassles. No questions.

Its nothing short of miraculous!

I wonder what else it can do? I’m hooked. Go getcha some.

(Is there a downside to Bonjour? I dunno - I’m not sure if I want know either. I think I’m smitten!)

Tags: Uncategorized //