Best network: wimpy computer to run apps in 2nd computer at school?

[db]

I want to set up a computer for my daughter at school so she can access it via her whimpy broken laptop (which she wants to keep using since it was a gift from her grandparents). And I don't know much about networking, so I appreciate any advice you can give.

1. Can she run apps on the other computer via her laptop (as if it were a terminal)?

2. Should I set up the other computer as a server or as a peer, or what? -->!I want an arrangement which will be *easy to fix* if something goes south a month or two later, since I'm not there!!

3. She occasionally needs to connect laptop elsewhere at school to school ethernet.

4. I'm open to using *any* os that works best on either computer. She has w98 on laptop now. I have access to install most other OSs.

TIA

Ps--the other computer would be running cpu-intensive apps, and providing more storage, ie photoshop, and of course MP3s!
________________________________________________________________________________________
(The boring story behind the question (ex-in-law wank story): Grandma & Grandpa decide to give my daughter a highschool grad gift she can use at college. Everybody is excited cuz it's a big surprise. They give their son--her uncle--money to buy a laptop for her, since they know nothing about computers. Uncle (who makes lots of money) apparently thinks "What's in this for me?" and buys TWO *used* laptops, one for my daughter, and--you guessed it--one for himself. Because the lcd eventually starts fading out, I eventually discover it's a poorly-fixed *used* computer. Calling tech support doesn't help b/c none of the serial #s match on the parts and they don't support used computers from 3rd parties. Of course nobody wants to hurt the grandparents' feelings, so they aren't even aware of the rip off. Until the next time I talk to them, that is....

 

[vi edit]

Well, first I would suggest going to you local Best Buy/Office Depot ect. and looking for a "network in a box" kit by either Linksys, NetGear, or D-Link. This should run you about $50-$75. It will include a 4 or 5 port hub, a network card for your computer, another network card that you can save for future use, the appropriate cables, and full instructions on how to set everything up.

For her laptop, you'll have to purchase a PC Card network card. I recommend the linksys 10/100 card. You can probably find it at Best Buy for about $60. If you look online, you may be able to find better prices.

The instructions in the network kit should pretty much walk you through setting up the network card and your network.

For ease, I'd suggest sticking with IPX/SPX as a protocol. A protocol is basically how the computers talk to each other over the network. And, if she is at a school, many of them still use IPX/SPX anyway.

For your question about running apps from the other PC, it's really not that simple. The cheapest and easist solution to running the apps from the more powerful PC would be to grab pcANYWHERE and install that on the two computers. It will allow your daughter to hook up to the more powerful computer and control it as if she was actually at the more powerful computer.

On a network like you want to set up, it will run OK. Not as fast as if you were actaully at the PC, but it will be functional.

This is a pretty vague solution, so if you have any specifics, feel free to ask!

 

[vi edit]

Oh, and what you want to set up is called a "peer to peer" network. You basically set up what is called a workgroup and then set both of the computers to the same workgroup.

If you daughter decides to disconnect from the network, your computer will not be affected in any way.

 

[db]

Can she run apps at the other computer if I install w2k server on it?

 

[vi edit]

It really depends upon the application. Many applications that you buy at best buy, staples, ect. are not designed to work off of a remote computer. They are meant to be run locally.

Some companies design their apps to be "network ready", but these are few and far between, and also cost big $$.

Even if she tried to run the executable from your computer, her laptop is still going to assume some of the workload. How much, I'm not really sure. It probably depends upon the application.

Also, a lot of applications just plain won't work like that. If you put a short cut on her desktop that linked to an executable on the more powerful computer's desktop, you are probably going to get a bunch of missing DLL errors, maybe a couple file not founds, and a couple other problems as well.

If you want the best compatibility, with the lowest amount of overhead on her PC, I would look into a solution much like .

pcanywhere

 

[vi edit]

Also, did I read it right that both the laptop and other computer would be at school with her?

 

[db]

Yes, both computers at school, in same room. Things run through other computer would be printer, photoshop, modem. Maybe also Office 2000.