Just a note for the Mac users out there… By default, your machine advertises your name on the local network. So if you’re the only Mac user at the coffee shop (or only Mac user of an obviously corresponding name and gender), it’s very easy to find your name.

So don’t name your machine after yourself unless you want to be found. That’s not a bad thing, but it should be a conscious choice rather than a default. Other platforms don’t encourage such naming, although it’s still possible.

My laptop currently is named NaN for various reasons. My name appears under the local network XMPP service but not machine name to avoid being Jason Riedy@Jason Riedy.local. I chose the naming with the intent of being found easily for communication. Others may not want it so.

If you want not to be easily identifiable, name your machine something other than your given name.