| Author | Message | ||
     Pstob1126 |
Looking for a talented local (Maplewood) PC Guru to help me setup a simple home network and share peripherals. Please help while I still have a few hairs on my head. Replies to PSTOB1126@hotmail.com. Please include phone number and best time to call. Thanks! | ||
| Lseltzer |
I don't do the kind of consulting you ask for, but I write about the sorts of products you'd need. My current favorite suggestion for people like you would be the Proxim Symphony HRF Cordless network (http://www.proxim.com/symphony/index.shtml). It's 1.6Mbps wireless networking. USB-based adapters for regular PCs are $99 apiece and a PC card version is $129. No Macs. In fact, even Windows NT and Windows 2000 are tricky, but they work. It's designed for Windows 95/98/Me. | ||
| Pstob1126 |
Lseltzer: Thanks for the suggestion - a wireless approach sounds nice. But in my case I just purchased a new PC (Windows Me - ugh) and have the necessary 10/100 ethernet cards in place. Just need some setup guidance. | ||
| Dave |
Just pick up an autosensing 4 or 6 port hub (Netgear is a good make http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10015444&loc=12248). You need one port for each computer and peripheral you want on the network and one for your DSL or cable modem if needed. Plug everything in using cat 5 patch cables (about $8 per 15' cable), and walla. To connect all to the internet, call your ISP or check their web site. They are likely using a protocol called DHCP, which is very, very easy to configure on the network computers. | ||
| Lseltzer |
I hope you have fun running wires. It's tough to do in these old houses. If you're plugging a cable or DSL modem into the hob for all the others computers to share you probalby need a special cable called a "crossover" cable. I know that's the case with my cable modem. You might also want to buy a hardware firewall/sharing device. Consider the WatchGuard SOHO (http://www.watchguard.com/products/soho.html) which combines a 4-port hub with a hardware firewall that can automatically update itself with protections against new attacks. It also has optional site blocking. There are less expensive products from companies like D-Link and Linksys, but most have less-capable firewalls. | ||
| Euclidean |
Lseltzer, What is your opinion of firewalls such as BlackIce? | ||
| Lseltzer |
BlackICE is isn't technically a firewall, but it accomplishes a lot of the same things. The main advantage to a hardware firewall like I mentioned above is that it protects every system on the network and can't cause any conflicts with application software. Hardware firewalls also don't care if you're running Macs or other even less common operating systems. With BlackICE and other software firewalls you have to run the program on every computer on the network and update each of them periodically. OTOH, none of these provide antivirus protection. Remember that the sorts of attacks that come through firewalls are not the same as viruses and trojan horses and the like, and you still have to protect against them with conventional antivirus software. I write for PC Magazine and usually do the stories on both software firewalls and antivirus. They have an annual Utilities Issue in the spring. Looks like that won't be coming out till late May this year though. | ||
| Nakaille |
Does anyone (Larry? or whomever) have any suggestions for adding ram without risking a static electricity debacle? I don't have an anti-static wrist guard or whatever they call them. One suggestion I saw was to touch a non-painted metal surface that is grounded first but I'd have to lug the processor to the basement I think to find such a surface. (Unpainted grounded metal doesn't seem to be common in the rest of the house. Plus I keep thinking if I find something I'll get electricuted or something.) Any other practical suggestions? Thanks for the help. Bacata | ||
| Lseltzer |
I think there's a lot of excess fear of this static electricity stuff. I don't worry about it too much and I've rarely had problems that could have been from it. I make a point of touching some grounded metal surface (like the power supply of a computer that's plugged-in) and things are fine. Of course, you shouldn't touch the actual chip surfaces any more than you have to. I'll probably get yelled at by some engineers for this, but it's my experience. | ||
| Tom |
You could haul it into the kitchen, and touch your faucet! | ||
| Davidbuckley |
As Lseltzer said, just touch the power supply (metal box shaped thing inside case) when the computer (Mac or dark side, btw?) is plugged in then unplug, don't move around and generate more static, install your ram; you should have no problems. Pee first(!) Good luck. Your computer will be much more functional. Be well, all. David Buckley | ||
| Techie |
Regarding BlackICE: I have been using it for about a year, and it works very well. I have a cable modem, so my computer gets probed and attacked almost constantly. BlackICE has kept out all sorts of attacks, and it also gives information about the source of the attacks so you can contact the offender's ISP if you want. The updates are very easy (just click Tools, Download Update), and it "knows" whether you have the latest version or not. Last year it cost me $35. Note: if you download software after you purchase it, save it on a disk (Zip or other type). If you only save it on the hard drive and there's a problem, there goes your software (which you already paid for). This happened to me, and NetworkICE (the makers of BlackICE) allowed me to download another copy, but I wouldn't count on this in every instance. | ||
| Nakaille |
Thanks to all who made suggestions about installing memory safely. I finally got a chance to do it Sunday night. It worked! And I now have 192K SDRAM in my computer. The current HP's are so user-friendly when it comes to expansion! They even come with a manual that tells you how to do upgrades, remove components, etc. That and the service record according to Consumer Reports and the availability of two CD-ROM drives (one with a CD-Writer Plus) for instantaneous copying of disks was what sold me on it. (I should definitely do a commercial. Oops, I just did!) Here's another testimonial. I bought my Kingston Memory (128K) from Best Buy on a Saturday for 99.99, the price I expected to pay from perusing the net. The Sunday ads showed a sale and rebate at Office Max that brought the price down to 69.99. Grrr. Since the Best Buy sales person had mistakenly sold this novice the small outline (notebook, etc) version of the 128K, I had to take it back anyway. I showed the sale circular to the customer service rep handling the exchange and asked why they weren't participating in the rebate offer. She deducted $35 from the price on the spot. No need to send in the rebate form or anything. She was professional, efficient and polite. Techie: I was checking out BlackIce the other day. I, too, use a cable modem. How did you know you were getting probed and attacked before you installed your firewall? Or is this just generally known about cable modem service? Why BlackIce over Norton's or McAfee's firewall or some other? Bacata |
