the Angel has bought herself a netbook (acer model with the caption "look! wife toy!" that satmap is looking a bit nicer)
i've connected it the wireless internet, which was easier than i thought it was going to be, but was wondering should i try and connect it wirelessly also as a network machine, primarily so she can update the netbook with music and things she can put on her ipod (itunes is banned from all use on "my" pooter and it is not allowed anywhere near my music files).
Parky, if your both using your home broadband wirelessly your PC's will actually see each other already. If you check your IP address on each machine it'll probably be 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.3 on the other or something similar. You'll find if you do a Start > Run and type in \\192.168.1.2 it will browse to the other PC, you may have to login so may need an account on each PC. Like most thingsa with computer it is not simple if you haven't done it before which is the worlds biggest IT problem, nothing is simple unless your an expert.
If you have it set up correctly, it should deny you access unless you have set up "permissions" (administrator privileges) on the scanned computer though shouldn't it?
The only purpose of a network is for the sharing of resources, either hardware or data (including but not limited to printers and internet connection). Using Vista it's simple to create a home network, with a Wizard doing most of the work.
Given that you've connected the laptop to the internet wirelessly it's a fair assumption that you have a wireless router - in which case you already have a network. The router automatically allocates IP addresses to each machine on the network (usually within set ranges that are invisible to computers outside the network). To see what IP address either your PC or Laptop have been allocated use Start > Run and type "CMD". This brings up a black window with white writing (similar to the old "DOS" window) - type "ipconfig" and it will give you the devices IP Address. If this is in the range 192.168.x.x then you are connected to a local, private, network.
Once the devices are networked (easiest way is use the Set up Home Network Wizard) you can set permissions for what you want to share, ranging from making a printer on one device available to all through to sharing whole hard drives or selected folders. If you do decide to share drive contents you need to make sure that your router has encryption enabled and that each connected device has the required encryption key.
The advantages of a network are mainly the ability to move data easily from one device to another, or to share hardware. At present you're sharing an internet connection through the router as part of a network, so you just need to decide whether sharing other resources is beneficial enough to you for you to allow disc and/or printer access.
Keep it seperate, next thing you know she will have hacked your offshore accounts and spent your gear fund!!
On a serious note, i have a media PC that looks like a hifi seperate that is connected to the TV and is my Hub. Then 1 old laptop (newone on way) and her ladyship has a Tiny little laptop that was stupidly expensive. They are all networked on XP, very easy if you have a USB key.
Only problem i have found is getting the read write rules correct so we don't end up deleting stuff and duplicating stuff on the hub.
I am ashamed to say i am addicted to Torrents sos have a seperate non network machine downstairs that is just for downloading.
