PoliBlog

What can a computer network do for you? A computer network in your home office offers the full range of network services. Here are five big services supported by home office routers such as the Apple AirPort Extreme or Linksys Router:

• Share Internet. This is typically the primary reason why clients call me. Sharing the Internet access in your home office with several computers--Macs or PC's--is the cat's meow. Everyone wants one. Sharing can be both wired and wireless, with advantages and disadvantages for both systems.
• Share Files. This means copying files directly from one computer to another using the network file sharing feature. E-mailing files is not file sharing. Both Macs and PCs can share files directly from either computer desktop using the built-in file sharing features found in both. Mac OS X allows direct file sharing to other Macs and to PCs.
  
• Share Printer. Printers cost a bundle. A home office can share printers on a network. Most laser printers are network-ready. Inkjet printers and multifunction devices (also called All-in-One; combination scanning, faxing and printing) can now be made available to network users with the installation of a small box called a print server.
• Share Music. With iTunes, music on your Macs can be shared thorughout the network with other computers. Play music located on any Mac, on any other Mac. With an Apple AirPort Express device, playback iTunes music from your Mac to your home stereo. Mac--> Network--> AirPort Express--> Home Stereo.
• Share Backup. The current AirPort Extreme router supports network data backup hard drives. Backing up data becomes easier and more cost efficient with network backups. Other backup devices such as a network attached storage are also supported. Both strategies permit multiple computers to back up to one drive using the network. Backup never got easier.
  

Do you have a router installed permitting you to share the Internet? Then you have a computer network ready to share files and share a printer, and backup irreplaceable data. Web pages in to your computer, along with files, print jobs, and music out.

Sharing Printers. Sharing files. Sharing the Internet--it's a sharing kinda thing.