• There cannot be many people who do not use a PC to assist them in their SoHo (Small office Home office), from producing documents to keeping the accounts to searching the Internet or indeed managing the Web site. As PC hardware and software prices have fallen and the number of PC's used in home working has increased, the question whether to network your PC's has become relevant.

• If you only use one PC and are happy then the answer is an obvious no!

• If you use two PC's and are happy with transferring documents via floppy disk and swapping cables if you have a printer then stick without - if you want such benefits as:
  • Easy copying of documents from one PC to the other a simple direct cable connection between PC's is recommended.
  • To have a faster and more functional connection use a network card in each PC linked together with a cable and Microsoft Networking installed. This solution will allow the PC's to share both files and printers with a much faster connection between the two. This is called a peer-to-peer network.

• If you use three PC's or more the answer is usually yes with one of the PC's working as a Server, a networked PC providing centralised services such as file and print sharing as well as sharing Internet access. A server can provide all the following benefits:
  • Easily copying documents from one PC to the other, regardless of size.
  • Share one Printer between any of the PC's without swapping cables.
  • If you have two printers connected, redirect printout from any PC to them as required.
  • Share one phone connection so you can browse the Internet from any or all the PC's at once.
  • Send email from any PC
  • Install backup hardware/software on the Server making it easy to backup data stored on any other PC in the network.
  • If one PC does break down the other PC's can act as backup without swapping cables and reconfiguring.
  • Everyone can access the one copy of a document ( spreadsheet / database reports etc ) eliminating duplication and inaccuracies due to different copies of the same document being worked upon.

• It is relatively straight forward to set up a Direct Cable connection (the instructions on how to do this can be found in Windows 98 Help under Direct Cable connection!) If you feel confident enough the Microsoft networking peer-to-peer set-up is fairly straight forward. The Server option requires more thought and more can go wrong. Unless you're very confident with PC networking we would recommend using a PC and networking specialist. Try your local small computer store for a recommended specialist who could give you a quote.

Thank you to www.firstcallus.com for these notes. www.firstcallus.com currently only operates in the Midlands (UK) but to find out more about the computer services they offer (such as networking a PC) please follow the link or Tel: 0121 533 0068