Tenex Veteran Member


Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1421 Location: London
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: How should I connect it all together? |
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main kit
intel iMac
iBook G3 with Airport
Shuttle PC x2 (1 XP Pro, 1 XP Home; wireless .11b cards available but not yet fitted)
Viewsonic 17" LCD (VGA only though it looks like it's got x2 ?)
Logitech MX700 combo
Linksys wireless-G router (currently has 1 Shuttle and the iMac connected by ethernet)
4Mb DSL connection
Brother MFC 9070 multi function mono laser
Brother QL550 label printer
Canon Lide 20(?)
Samsung external DVD writer (firewire & USB)
External USB HDD (will be x2 eventually) - noisy!
Belkin 4 port firewire powered hub
3x 4 port USB powered hubs
too many occasionally used USB items (eg. Sony CliƩ, IR adapter, MP3 etc) to list
Belkin 500VA UPS
additional kit not yet used
Belkin Bluetooth Access point with USB Print Server
Linksys wireless media adaptor
Listing all this makes me sure I have too much gear... Networked it must be!
OK I intend making the iMac the centre of my digital life (oooh I sound like Steve Jobs) so I guess I'll have to attach both monitors to it to extend my desktop, but the Viewsonic is not new so it will have to be via VGA.
I'd like to keep my Logitech MX combo because its a brand new replacement for the last MX combo and I really don't like the Mighty Mouse (the Apple keyboard is OK but why use wired when you have wireless?).
Only one Shuttle is in use at the moment and as I haven't really embarked on much of a transition yet it's still doing everything. When I'm Mac-centred I think it'll make sense to leave the Shuttle to handle stuff like Bittorrent and the Newsgroups and apps like voice processing. So I guess I'll need to add a VGA KVM to the above? Any suggestions?
Cabling is the bane of my life so I thought I'd relocate the printers and use the BT AP. Could I use the iMac as the BT conduit for the rest of the networked computers?
Here's an odd one: the Shuttles have multi card readers and I wonder if it would be possible to use them as drives for SD/MS cards for iPhoto imports?
The biggest stumbling block is I am a complete networking newbie so all constructive help appreciated! Sorry for the long post. _________________ iMac intel CoreDuo 17" 1Gb
WD My Book Premium fw320Gb x2
Logitech S530, iPod Nano 2Gb
& a PPC Mini bought for my Mother |
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