In that case I don't get it... do I basically get a random name when I mine a namecoin? And then I try to buy names I actually want from someone who has the name I want? And if no one has the name yet then I have to wait until someone mines it?
I don't know the details, but you do still mine coins into a wallet and all that stuff, there are just special types of transactions where you post a bit of data to the blockchain and that data is the domain name you want registered.
