Windows 7, Three Easy Steps to Home Networking

CES is raging along, as though any of you really care. Microsoft is there, as usual, so you know the hubris and hyperbole are ridiculously high. Microsoft's rhetoric is so high it's like Captain Kirk gave orders to set phasers to stun, but somehow every phaser's been set to self-destruct with that really annoying whine. Oh, and every member of the crew's wearing a red shirt.

Here's a great quote regarding Windows 7's new, super improved, shake and bake, just toss into the oven and set to 350º for 20 minutes, comes out crispy and golden brown everytime networking:

"For most consumers, setting up a home network is way too complicated," said product manager Charlotte Jones, during Microsoft's CES keynote presentation. "But, in Windows 7, there's a feature called Home Group, and it sets up a home network very easily."

Windows 7 automatically networks with Internet-connected devices added to a user's Home Group, Jones said. In a live demonstration at CES, Jones added her husband's PC to her network so she could access his music files.

"My husband has the best music on his PC, so I can navigate to his PC just like it's my own hard drive and pick some music," said Jones. After tapping the files, users could play the music on their own computer or export it to a third-party device, such as an Xbox. "It's way cool," she said.

Hey, would be Windows 7 buyers, you want the real easy 3-step to home networking? Here's how I did it:

1. Purchase a Mac.
2. Take it home, plug it in, connect everything, including ethernet, boot up.
   
   • If you want to go wireless, even better, after boot up, set your connection to be wireless.
3. Select another machine on your network in the Finder, connect.

Let's dissect, shall we?

"But, in Windows 7, there's a feature called Home Group, and it sets up a home network very easily."

There's a feature in Mac OS X called the operating system which does the same thing. It appears that Microsoft lacks this operating system feature. (I know, I know, there's Bonjour which handles this. Still, allow me some, okay?)

"It's way cool," she said.

"It's way cool"? She actually said that? Really? Last time I heard someone say that Clinton hadn't yet picked up cigars. I think I prefer Steve Jobs' "Boom", and even that's a little odd.