How Hard Is It to Network a Mac and a PC?

[stevem326]

I know very little about networking but I'm thinking about buying a Mac (mainly just for fun and for something to do) and trying to network it together with my desktop PC.

Can anyone give me an idea of what exactly this involves? I know it's a bit more than just buying a router and hooking them both up to it. My PC is mainly used for gaming and MS Office type stuff. I probably need to find a few online guides or books myself on networking but I thought this would be a good place to start.

Thanks for any input anyone can provide. 😎

 

[jlazzaro]

Originally posted by: stevem326
I know it's a bit more than just buying a router and hooking them both up to it.

actually, thats about it. if you want things like file sharing, it will obviously have to be enabled on both sides.

 

[stevem326]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro

Originally posted by: stevem326
I know it's a bit more than just buying a router and hooking them both up to it.

actually, thats about it. if you want things like file sharing, it will obviously have to be enabled on both sides.

Nah, I mainly just want them both to have internet access and to be able to print...that's about it. Just kind of a project to play with for now.

 

[m1ldslide1]

Originally posted by: stevem326
Can anyone give me an idea of what exactly this involves?

It's impossible. Won't work. Time to sell your Mac and use the proceeds to build another PC. 😀

 

[stevem326]

Originally posted by: m1ldslide1

Originally posted by: stevem326
Can anyone give me an idea of what exactly this involves?

It's impossible. Won't work. Time to sell your Mac and use the proceeds to build another PC. 😀

LOL...actually I've been using a PC for years but just wanted to buy a Mac to play around with (a local store is having a sale on them this month). But, with the money I'd be spending on the Mac I could do some serious upgrading to my current PC...hmmm....now you got me thinking!

 

[jlazzaro]

if you want something to play around with, go linux. ubuntu with beryl is kinda awesome 🙂 youtube it...

 

[tulsatech]

I could have sworn I read an article on Anandtech about the open computer (mac alternative). http://psystar.com/openmac_the_apple_alternative.html

Works just like a Mac (Jaguar O/S) but for about 1/3 of the price.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

There's been some speculation of that Psystar company being a real company. So just wait before you go out and buy it.

Also, it is pretty easy, just go to the System Preferences and look around the Sharing icon and enable everything you need.

 

[stevem326]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
if you want something to play around with, go linux. ubuntu with beryl is kinda awesome 🙂 youtube it...

Thanks. I used to have a dual-boot system with XP Pro and Ubuntu and then XP Pro and Xandros. It was pretty cool but I'm just getting a bug to try a Mac for some reason 😎