If
you choose ADSL high-speed Internet solution then many providers
will enable you to share one connection between all the computers.
AOL users have to upgrade to their higher cost solution but most
other suppliers allow you to share the connection at no extra
cost.
Once you have chosen your ADSL provider,
the next step is to consider the distribution of Internet connectivity
within your home.
Whether you want a computer connection in an
office/ extra bedroom now as well as what you may need in the
future are important considerations.
Will your kids eventually
need access to a computer? Do you want to be able to access the
Internet in more than one room in your home? Will you be working
from home?
Depending on the number of people in your household
and the number of computers that you now have or may eventually
have, it is worth planning ahead. It is far easier and less expensive
in the long run to install a planned computer network before or
as you are settled in your home than it is to later have to tear
out and replace wiring in order to upgrade network connectivity.
Homes with multiple computer systems (laptop and/ or desktop
computers) require a more complex type of connectivity than when
a family shares one computer in a central location.
It has become
almost essential for school-aged children to have computer access
for homework research and projects.
In the majority of British families the computer has become
a required tool.
Each child may have his or her own computer,
the kids may share their own computer, and the adults may either
work at home or need to access their work VPN from home, necessitating
access to the Internet by multiple users at the same time.
These decisions can become more complicated when you factor in
such elements as print and file sharing from within your home
network.
In addition to home printers, other devices
used in your home may also require Internet connectivity. Devices
such as music streaming devices e.g. Netgear MP101, Series 2 Tivo and Microsoft
Xbox, all can be connected to a home network and can require Internet connectivity if you
wish to get the most use out of them.
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