[cocoa_coder]

im using mac os x 10.3.2 (latest dev revision) and i noticed that my prompt no longer shows my machine name but shows:
uschi00114:~<my user name>$
and after command executed i see msc_confrcrm4a appended. does anyone know what the hell that is?

[gperks]

My machine (10.3) will pick up another machine name, I think if the IP it's assigned on the network is actually known as another machine in DNS. My Mac picks up the other machine's name.

Sorry for the unclear answer; I'm not very clear on the mechanics myself.

[Geobunny]

Absolutely correct. If there is a DHCP server on your network and you've pinched (or are using for whatever reason) an IP address which has been assigned to someone else, then it's the name of that other person's machine that will show up in the terminal and anywhere else your machine name should appear.

Go to the network system preferences pane and set your IP address to DHCP (you might want to make a note of what it is before you change it)