“There is nothing secret about ZeroConf (for Zero Configuration), an initiative begun in 1999. But few Windows users are aware that Apple has initiated its use, with a scheme called Rendezvous. This is essentially a self-discovery network that combines elements of a Bluetooth piconet and universal plug-and-play capability,” writes John Dvorak, noted “Mac-user-provocateur,” over at PC Magazine.
“With Rendezvous running on an 802.11b-enabled Mac laptop, you can enter an area and automatically discover other travelers also using the technology. Although Rendezvous was released in May 2002, Apple has not overpromoted the concept, since it appears to be used mostly as an ad hoc peer-to-peer system for trading music files,” Dvorak writes.
Dvorak writes, “A friend of mine who travels a lot says that most Mac users, when they get on an airplane, immediately boot their machines to see whether Rendezvous finds any other Macs on the plane. People can exchange files, chat, or whatever. The Windows world has nothing like this.”
Full article from July 29, “Best-Kept Secret Dept.” here.
Yet another sign of the arrival of the Cyber Apocalypse… John Dvorak has said something favorable about a mac.
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Or to quote Neil Stephenson, an “infocalypse”.
This is fearful, because Dvorak is almost always wrong. Over the years, he’s pissed on many Macs (and on the Mac OS), and was utterly proven wrong each time.
But now he’s saying something good about Macs… Expect the worst.
Hmmm. Well this is not entirely true. I’m a huge Apple fan but accurate information is more important than a silly “who’s OS is better” battle:
http://www.upnp.org/
The only difference really is that more CE (consumer electronics) manufacturers are adopting UPnP than rendevous.
UPnP is one of many available “open networking” initiatives. What Dvorak is talking about is current, native, zero-configuration networking in an OS. That’s all. Based on that, he is absolutely correct.
Also, there is no pissing match going on here. MDN is simply reporting on a column posted in PC Magazine that references Mac. That is the purpose of MDN, isn’t it?
Using rendezvous on planes? Aren’t you supposed to turn off airport when you’re on the plane – to avoid interfering with the airplanes electronics?
802.11b and 802.11g operate in the 2.4 GHz spectrum and would not interfere with any communications equipment (or other electronics) in commercial aircraft.
Cellphone use is another story, though many airlines are now talking about allowing cellphone use in-flight. Here is an overview of potential problems with cellphone use on a commercial aircraft:
http://www.avionicswest.com/myviewpoint/airlinecellphone.htm
This link talks about the possibility that on-board cellphone use may be approved by 2006:
http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/21907.html
Also, here’s a story about SAS putting wirless networks on their planes:
http://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/computing/01/25/sas.tests.lan.idg/
I can’t believe he just said something positive about macs. Hell has frozen over apparently.
Dvorak still sucks.
dvorak bites.
Dvorak is slowly putting together what we have known for years. Macs really are better.
He still has to get a shot off by implying that Mac users “mainly” use it to illegally swap music. I use Rendevous to exchange all kinds of files on my home LAN. Transmit uses it, and when I run it, it automatically finds all the other machines, and I can log on…zero effort. It rocks!
Amazing how he can deliver a compliment and an insult at the same. Rendezvous is essential for our networks. It has taken streamlined connectivity and opened up communication throughout all our departments. Well, except one and we all know why that is.
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On 8/3/03 there is a comment about upnp vs. rendevous…must be apc guy …look carefully on the upnp site …looks like a gal in Oregon is in charge of membership…but questions about the legal contract are referred to Microsoft (bottom of page)… I don’t believe this person…not fully disclosing his/her obvious bias…
Dvorak used to be a Mac guy. But he went over to the Dark Side some time ago….
For more information on ZeroConf and its competitors…
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2002/12/20/zeroconf.html
Zar is right Dvorak used to be a Mac guy. He had the inside back page column in MacUser magazine (long before it merged with MacWorld magazine) for several years. IIRC the column was called “The Devil’s Advocate” or something similar. He went over to the other side during the dark days when Apple’s quality assurance was really, really bad. Several columnists famous in the IT world who were loyal Mac users (if not always vocal Mac advocates) did the same thing.
Maybe Dvorak is rethinking his loyalties again. Maybe, but I doubt it. He can write and speak at many more places as a Wintel advocate than as a Mac advocate.
Looked at from a macro perspective, D(v)ork is part of the tide that is now turning in favour for Macs. He would look foolish if he persisted with his Mac bashing when the Mac platform has now got so much going for it.- iTunes, the G5, iMac, iPod are the better known examples. These Mac features have already been praised by other pundits so Mr D(v)ork has to find his own angle- hence Rendevous.
Once Panther, the G5 and iTunes for Windows are released, Apple should promote itself like crazy and hopefully, with an improving economy, complete its ressurection.
I’ve just had a read of the article and unfortunately it was a little light on the details.
Regarding Dvorak, I’ve read a number of his articles and it seems to me that the only ones saying he is a Mac sellout are people who wanting to start a flame war.
Over the last 2 years I have been reading almost all his articles and if one took the time, it seems that he is becoming more and more disenchanted with the whole PC industry.
A while back he was praising the heck out of Linux, IMHO, he was hoping that maybe this could be the saviour of his sanity, a nice unix like operating system, massive amounts of freeware and being able to run it on commodity hardware.
Flash forward a few months and it seems that Dvorak has finally seen reality. A replacement for the x86/Wintel nightmare isn’t going to come from a drop in replacement from Windows because the fact remains, the problem ISN’T soley the operating system but the architecture too.
The fact remains, Linux can not replace Windows because:
1) Windows is pre-installed on computers from the bigbrands by default
2) Lack of Independent Software Vendors
3) Lack of hardware support
4) Lack of brand awareness in the marketplace
What is the alternative? well, the good old Mac. An easy to use operating system with a BSD core, what more can a user ask for. Rock solid stability and ease of use rolled into one BUT without all the draw backs of Linux or Windows.
Ultimately the ball is in Apples court, and if you have seen the pathetic attention Apple has given to the international market one has to wonder whether Steve Jobs thinks the world ends at the shores of the United States.
Dvorak follows the money.
For a long time he spouted off against Macs saying the most ridiculous things.
Why? Controversy. He wanted to rile us up, make waves, get hits. And keep his name on peoples lips.
He didn’t believe or misbelieve what he said. He did it to get noticed. Like shock jocks who say outrageous things or ‘artists’ that put plastic religous statues in mason jars filled with urine.
And it was still cool to poke sticks at Apple.
Now it’s cool to like Apple, so he stakes out his own claim, as the astute poster above pointed out. But it doesn’t mean that he likes Apple, or even believes what he is saying.
He’s a shape shifter.
The next time Apple falters, or It’s just ‘time’ to make dire predictions. he’ll be there, too.
He’s an editorial writer without real opinions, just what works the best to keep meat on his table.
BTW, most journalists are like this.
First come up with the story, then collect facts or anecdotes that support it, ignoring what doesn’t fit the story.
david vesey
I remember Mr. Dvorak’s articles in MacUser. Who cares if he’s following the money? It’s his life. Regardless, as Devil’s Advocate, he exposed Apple’s faults and missteps during an era when naysayers were most unwelcome. It is something that everyone needs if only to prevent them from resting on their laurels and letting the competition surpass them. Admittedly much of what Mr. Dvorak wrote was difficult to read, but it showed us that Apple was run by humans just as any other company is.
In short, Dvorak provided us with a reference point based in reality. The truth will set you free — but first it will piss you off. I wonder where Apple would be these days were it not for people like Dvorak who were willing to criticize the downside of Apple’s greatest achievements.
<I remember Mr. Dvorak’s articles in MacUser. Who cares if he’s <following the money? It’s his life.
Yes, and I’m glad that it’s HIS not mine!
<Regardless, as Devil’s Advocate, he exposed Apple’s faults and <missteps during an era when naysayers were most unwelcome. It is <something that everyone needs if only to prevent them from <resting on their laurels and letting the competition surpass them.
Huh? The era when ‘naysayers were most unwelcome’ was not the time when Apple was ‘resting on it’s laurels’.
Apple was circling the drain.
<In short, Dvorak provided us with a reference point based in reality. <The truth will set you free — but first it will piss you off.
I never thought that he was hampered by reality, So he never pissed me off
<I wonder where Apple would be these days were it not for people like <Dvorak who were willing to criticize the downside of Apple’s <greatest achievements.
I think that if you asked Steve Jobs if Dvorak made Apple a better company, Steve would laugh so hard that the Diet Coke woud shoot out of his nose.
Dvorak isn’t good enough or smart enough or HONEST enough to make a difference with for or to Apple.
dv
RE: david vesey
Interesting that you call him an idiot, atleast we don’t see him crap on about MacOS X being ported to x86 as if it were to sort out all the issues associated with the IBM-Compatible world.
Actually this is available on the PC now
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http://www.swampwolf.com/products/