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The amazing growth of the Internet. |
Home Networks |
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The growth of home networks is just astounding. Twice in the last week and a half, I helping out with some networks, that showed how the pace has really quickened. In the first instance an experienced MAC user installed a wireless network. The network contains a high speed laser printer and the family laptop that can rove around the house. Of course they are using high speed DSL The second case was more interesting still. This is a family that contains 2 teens. They have 3 computers and an X Box for gaming. They have an Ethernet Hub that allows them to network ALL the devices over the network. Ethernet cable connects all the devices. What's interesting about this family is that they started out a few years ago with no computers and then obtained an old one that used dial-up. Soon the then grade school boy, hooked up an old IBM machine purchased for $100, added memory and the family got a stripped down Dell and now their computer hardware had grown to two machines. By this time they had high speed DSL and an Ethernet hub so that both machines could use the single DSL link effectively. Next they added an X Box that migrated onto the hub. The young boy, now a high school student, built himself a brand new computer before Christmas with a transparent case and fans that glow in the dark. It's a big, powerful machine, built from new pieces. He added a wide screen that he got for $100 and now his room has a real home entertainment system with glowing boxes and the ability to share the growing network. Also at Christmas time the boy decided to take his old IBM machine and outfit it for his older sister. The old machine plus upgrade of memory now has a large screen and the network has four machines on it, all doing well. 16/01/2009 01:48 AM |
If you look at the network diagram, it's quite interesting. There is a jumble of wires running around the house, because they use wireless just for Apple I-Phone, but the net is very fast. It has one really powerful computer that the boy built and two ordinary computers plus the gaming machine and phones. It's quite a setup. There is lots of disk storage on the network. There is even a Terabyte backup drive.... that is 1000 gigabytes plus all the storage on each machine. It certainly is an amazing age. It's impossible not to be impressed with all this. The X Box is a full Internet client too. As I sit here in my house, I'm looking at 3 computers around me, a high speed network with shared printer and lots and lots of disk space measuring over a Terabyte. The machines share files too. I have hard wired Ethernet or if I unplug two of the machines they will go secure wireless. I have a regular parts inventory of cables, adapters and power supplies. It's a very sophisticated world now. Keep in mind that you have to keep your connectors and cables in good order. Roving cats and tugs on them can make Humpty Dumpty fall off the wall. Find yourself a good teen helper and they will have your house wired or wireless in no time. They can show you how to look at the Saugeen Times on their phone too. Things to think about:
Amazed
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