bealis14

I just ordered a new computer for my home and want to share a DSL connection and files with my old computer. Do I need to buy a router to network these two computers and share my connection, or can I just use a cable that runs through my USB ports or network cards? I definitely want it to be fast.

Thanks

Joshua

Go with a router. You can get a good one for under $30 these days.

Here is one that I've had good experience with.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...92863?v=glance

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Burzhui

no no no bad idea, Bealis said he wants it to be fast and you're giving him 802.11b router, if you want a wireless router then go with G, if you want a wired router then 10/100... don't go with the b standrd though

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Joshua

I put up the B router since he didn't say anything about wireless, but for $24 you can't beat it. This gives him the 4 port wired switch he needs and the wireless option for later. Besides, for web surfing, very few people have a connection over 10mb/s so they'd see 0% benefit by buying the more expensive G version. I use G, but only because I copy Gigs of files between machines, so I see the benefit.

rtse313

how about just a cross-over cable ??

ray

I say go with a crossover cable if you have no further intentions of using both computers on the internet at once.

If your only task is to transfer some old files from the old computer to the new computer, just buy a crossover cable for 5 bucks.

bachviet

Get a G wireless router.

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Maarchk

So a crossover cable is out cause he wants sharing of internet. If your computers will be right next to eachother, then a wired router would probably be most effective and cheapest. If your computers are going to be far away, then wireless is better. Maybe more important is are your computers or at least one of them going to have a wireless card? Cause if neither of your coputers has a wireless ability, then your wireless router is gonna just be a nice paper weight. I would recommend a wired router cause they are cheap and solid.
a wireless router will work fine if thats your goal, but i have had occasional disconnects and it just bugs me to lose connectivity.

-m

p.s. totally unrelated, but could someone pm my ghetto self how you correctly qote someone? I hit quote and copied in the text that Bealis wrote, but for saying who i was quoting, i typed that in myself. Is that correct or am i missing a jedi mind trick?
-tia

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bachviet

Just run the wire from the router to other computers if need to so wireless router still works.

bealis14

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate the input. I think I'm going to go the wired ethernet approach. I looked at some stores online and the wired ethernet routers range from $20 to $xx,xxx. Lots of choices is a good thing, but do I just pick the cheapest one that works for my needs? Any recommendations. I just bought a new computer and the last thing I want to do is pay a lot of money for all the stuff that goes with it, but I don't want something that doesn't work well either.

bachviet

Netgear, Linksys, and SMG routers are pretty good. You shouldn't pay more than $20 for a wired router.

Joshua

I still totally suggest you go with the netgear router I linked to in my first post. for $4 more than you'd spend on the wired only router, you're gonna get everything you would in the wired router AND the wireless option (which you can disable) should you ever need it.

If you buy a wired only router and decide to add wireless later, you're looking at another $24 to replace it with the one I suggested or $100 for a WAP to just add wireless for what you have.

Just MHO!