Simple but CHEAP SOHO Network (WinXP Pro)? Kinda Long...

[Tom Geer]

I sure hope that this is the correct forum for this question.

I currently have a machine running WinXP Pro in a SOHO environment.
I would like to be able to access this machine from another room in the house.
At first I considered buying a low-end laptop and using a wireless network.
This would be my ultimate choice because of the portability and the fact that I
could actually lie in bed and surf, connect to my work server, etc.
The idea was that the laptop would need minimal requirements as I would use
something like PCAnywhere and let the desktop upstairs do all the processing.
Unfortunately I am on a VERY tight budget and have been unsuccessful in getting
a laptop on eBay for several weeks now. My only prerequisite was that it have a
fairly large display and be capable of at least 1024x768 resolution (for working
on large spreadsheet and the like). As luck would have it, it seems that
laptops with screens larger than 13.1" are also more powerful than
I can afford PLUS I have to dish out for the hardware to do the wireless connection.

I have now all but given up the idea of a laptop and I'm willing to sacrifice
portability for low cost. I was thinking of using some kind of dumb terminal
and making a wired connection. I already have a spare 17" Trinitron monitor.

The problem is this: Although I have over 20 years of computer experience, I
know NOTHING about networking. Some have told me that WinXP will not act as a
server for a dumb terminal. I DO NOT want to change the operating system on my
desktop.

I'm looking for an innovative and VERY cheap solution and I'm open to all
suggestions except using a series of mirrors and a long keyboard cable.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Tom Geer

To reply via email, remove "NOSPAM" from my email addy.

 

[f/fgeorge]

Go onto Ebay or your other favorite auction site or even
www.pricewatch.com or www.tigerdirect.com or wherever and buy a cheap
second hand computer. You can also get a cheaper than new network card
there too. I have purchased 400mhz machines for under $50.00.
You could get a brand new Gateway or Dell for $400.00 after rebate.
These would come with the OS and let you avoid the PCAnywhere idea,
they would also come with built in network capabilities.

I sure hope that this is the correct forum for this question.

I currently have a machine running WinXP Pro in a SOHO environment.
I would like to be able to access this machine from another room in the house.
At first I considered buying a low-end laptop and using a wireless network.
This would be my ultimate choice because of the portability and the fact that I
could actually lie in bed and surf, connect to my work server, etc.
The idea was that the laptop would need minimal requirements as I would use
something like PCAnywhere and let the desktop upstairs do all the processing.
Unfortunately I am on a VERY tight budget and have been unsuccessful in getting
a laptop on eBay for several weeks now. My only prerequisite was that it have a
fairly large display and be capable of at least 1024x768 resolution (for working
on large spreadsheet and the like). As luck would have it, it seems that
laptops with screens larger than 13.1" are also more powerful than
I can afford PLUS I have to dish out for the hardware to do the wireless connection.

I have now all but given up the idea of a laptop and I'm willing to sacrifice
portability for low cost. I was thinking of using some kind of dumb terminal
and making a wired connection. I already have a spare 17" Trinitron monitor.

The problem is this: Although I have over 20 years of computer experience, I
know NOTHING about networking. Some have told me that WinXP will not act as a
server for a dumb terminal. I DO NOT want to change the operating system on my
desktop.

I'm looking for an innovative and VERY cheap solution and I'm open to all
suggestions except using a series of mirrors and a long keyboard cable.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Tom Geer

To reply via email, remove "NOSPAM" from my email addy.

-- Have you checked your Smoke Detector...LATELY?

 

[Philip Edward Lewis]

I currently have a machine running WinXP Pro in a SOHO environment.

I would like to be able to access this machine from another room in the house. [...]
I'm looking for an innovative and VERY cheap solution and I'm open to all
suggestions except using a series of mirrors and a long keyboard cable.

VNC is free at http://realvnc.com/

You should be able to get by with something like a pentium 133 laptop
and VNC. (you really don't need that much power to run VNC...)

I see a pentium II 333MHz/13.1 screen/32M RAM/6Gig drive for $263 at
pricewatch.

Find someone who can install linux/netbsd/etc and VNC on it.

Get a SMC wireless Barricade (I got mine for ~$50 after rebate) and a
wireless card and you are in business.

good luck!