by debra littlejohn Shinder, mCSE etc
The Windows browser service, like most things invented by human beings, is far from perfect. But you've got to admire the democratic process the machines use to select which one will hold the important and powerful office of master browser on the network. And after the last couple of weeks, you have to admire the speed, efficiency and amazing lack of emotionalism with which they hold their elections.
There are lots of reasons to love the Windows browser elections, especially when compared to some other electoral processes. My top ten are:
10. When a Windows 95 machine loses the election for master browser, it never demands a recount.
9. Computers never spend lots of money to make TV commercials denigrating the character of other machines on the network that might be competing with them for the role of master browser.
8. The computers manage to participate in a complex election process without ever getting "confused."
7. No computer wants so desperately to be the master browser that it's willing to file a lawsuit over it.
6. Computers know machines are smarter and more accurate than humans, and would never consider letting people decide how they intended to vote.
5. The networks don't go around announcing who the winner is when the election is only 3% finished.
4. If you have a machine that you know will try to take over the election, and you don't want it to, all you have to do is edit its Registry and it won't be a candidate.
3. It's easy for an administrator to rig the election -- without making the entire country wait in suspense for weeks.
2. The network administrator doesn't have to get permission from the Supreme Court before the master browser can start doing its job.
1. Computers that lose the election don't whine about it; they gracefully concede and then try again next time.