Home Networking: Is It For You?

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Home Networking: Is It For You? - By: Benedict Smythe, Posted on: 2008-03-26

Since the advent of the Internet, people are becoming more technology savvy by the minute. The number of families purchasing computers for their homes has increased over the last few years and has shown no signs of stopping. If you have more than one computer in your household then home networking is the way to go.

Basically, when you network your computers, you connect them to each other. Home networking affords family members many advantages. A network allows you to share information. If for example, you need a file from a desktop computer, all you have to do is access this file from your laptop. This eliminates the task of going from room to room just to look for what you need. You can also share the use of peripherals such as a printer or a scanner. You can print a file from your laptop even if the printer is connected to a computer in another room. A home network can also allow you to share internet connection.

All members of the household can access the Web at the same time. This is especially useful for family members that telecommute. You can work from home even as your kids are surfing the Net. Just make sure to install protective software to prevent hackers from accessing you files.

Another benefit to home networking is that of entertainment. One of the most common leisure activities is multi--player gaming. It allows you to play games with other people in the house using different computers. You can even connect your unit to a television if you want to watch a program or a movie from your PC.

It is fairly easy to set up a home network. Most people use a desktop as the main computer, then connect other units such as a laptop to it. While you can use Ethernet cables to connect your computers, it is more convenient to use a wireless connection. This way, you don’t have to worry about where to set up cable wires around the house. Also, if you use a laptop frequently there is no need for you to stay in one area. You can take your work with you anywhere in the house. Additionally, wireless connection is more advantageous because it can adapt to future advancements more readily.

For a wireless connection you’ll need a modem router for the main computer and wireless network cards for the other units. The card allows the computers to communicate with each other by “catching” signal or data at is sent.

If you are using the Windows Operating System, you can find a networking wizard option that you can use to set up your system. All you have to do is follow the steps indicated and you’ll have set up your system in no time. Once your network is up and running you will now have an effective file sharing system for the various computers in your home. You can easily add other devices or hardware to your existing system too.

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