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Home Networking Edition

Volume 3.1

September 1999

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Find out more about Internet Call Manager. Click here.

Waiting your turn to use the computer? Don't know what to do about it?

There are some options.

So you have a computer--you want to check your e-mail, your son is on the Internet, and your daughter needs to type a term paper--what happens? Confrontation? Frustration? Or do you have a lot of patience?

You can do it all at once.

With the price of computers dropping, a second home or small office computer will become commonplace. You may want to have access to files on both computers or have Internet access with both. You might want to use the second computer as a backup to help safeguard data. You have several options.

Ethernet: You can put a network card in each computer, string some cable, and with a little configuring you have a network. Depending on the distance and obstacles (walls, floors, etc.) you might put it together yourself for around $75. It isn't hard to get on the Internet with both machines at the same time either. Instead of selling or giving away that older computer, you might keep it in action. Remember, though, that newer software may not run well on an older computer.

Wireless: Wireless networking is a little more expensive and data transfer is generally slower. You don't have to worry about running cable through a small hole in a wall. There is a downside to wireless though. There is a bigger chance of interruption and data corruption by interference from other electrical devices that may be in the path. Also, if you are worried about confidentiality, remember that the signal can travel 125-150' or so, and a neighbor might be able to tap into this type of network. The future is wireless, but it isn't really perfected yet.

One really great solution is the Buddy System. With the Buddy, you can get rid of the slower second computer and run two or more independent computers from the same CPU. If you buy a new high-powered computer and hook up the Buddy, you then have another computer with virtually the same processing power. You just need the Buddy (for about $160), a second monitor, mouse and keyboard. That's it. You can access the same software, files, and/or the Internet at the same time and from either station. It is truly amazing. You can see it in action at the Cyclone Computers store at 1013 Broadway, Emmetsburg, or click the picture at right for more info.

One last thing: Be careful about committing to a long-term (more than a year) Internet contract. Internet service charges will go down and connections will get faster. The future is wireless in Internet access too.

Waiting for a call, but the phone line is tied up? Don't want to spend an extra $20/month for a second phone line?