Now it is even simpler to network your computers
In the past, trying to connect one PC to another PC or to a Mac would mean a lot of headache. The most basic method was to use a null-modem, a pair of modems that were connected to each other without using the phone line.
Then there was LapLink, a cable that basically worked in a similar fashion. LapLink connects the serial ports of two PCs to bridge them. It also came with the software to allow the user of one computer to control the other computer. LapLink was very popular, and even today a lot of people are still using it to transfer small files from one PC or notebook to another.
For really serious networking, the first name that would come to mind in the past was Novell. Novell Netware was practically the only name for a network operating software through which you could connect to more than just two computers in a Local Area Network (LAN). You could also add a network computer to reduce overhead cost by sharing a printer among several users. It was also the software of choice if you wanted to install all your applications on a server and run them on individual client PCs or Macs.
Today, Netware has evolved into a very sophisticated networking software that can even connect business applications to the Internet. For most of us who work at SOHOs and want to connect just a couple of computers together, using Netware 5.1 is like using NASA's space technology to track down our "Fugitive of the Year".
And today we have several alternatives for making several machines talk to each other. We can use Linux, of course. It would be the cheapest way, and would be a lot of fun, especially if you want to know how computers and networks really work. There will be a lot of help for networking with Linux on the Internet, so you do not have to worry.
Windows NT and its Windows 2000 successor are also very popular as networking software as they are secure, scalable and have network management features thrown in. However, it will be too expensive and too complicated for your home PC network. For simple networking, like what you are likely to need in your small office, Windows 9x should be sufficient. Chances are that you already have it on each of your PCs. All you need to do is equip the PCs with Network Interface Cards (NICs), add a hub and connect all the cables, and then set up Windows 9x so that the machines recognize each other. A network based on Windows 9x can also include network printers and network scanners.
The new Windows Me (Millennium Edition) is an even better choice for small and simple networking. This operating system, which costs between US$59.95 and $199.95, depending on whether you buy an upgraded or a full version, includes home networking and Internet sharing capabilities.
Packaged solutions from Intel, 3Com and others are also good alternatives. They usually include the hardware that you need for your small network. What if you have a Mac and want to access a Windows network? According to ZDNet, the best choice is DoubleTalk from Connectix ($99, www.connectix.com). If you are the only Windows user in a jungle of Macs, you can use Thursby Software's TSStalk ($149, www.thursby.com) or Miramar Systems' PCMacLAN ($199, www.miramar.com). (Zatni Arbi)