Depends on how you use the term but I’d say no. It is providing the wireless router with an IP address as it would a second PC in the most simple way of doing this sharing.
A router allows you to have multiple connections to the internet while the cable/phone company only see once device connected. Before routers were commonplace you could pay to have additional IP addresses which were connected using a simple network switch. The router provides IP addressesd to each computer within the local network that are unique only locally. The outside world sees one IP address, that assigned to the router.
FWIW my own home network has just gotten more complex since I just added voice over IP phone for my home office. TV cable connects to a modem which connects to a router that has connections for four PCs and two telephones. That in turn connects to the wireless router I already had for my laptops.
Yes, but in the above case I was talking about setting up the desktop, and the desktop can’t get an IP address from anyone else on the network since it will be the one handing out IP addresses (so at that point there’s no one on the network who can give him an IP address). Once you configure the desktop, he’ll give out IP addresses to everyone else on the local network, which in the OP’s case is just the laptop.
Just a big hassle, for questionable benefit, that’s all. I mean, those of us who do it for a living can do it in our sleep. But I’ve gotten bitten badly everytime I told a n00b to “just slap together a network, they’re totally easy!” There is almost always a small snag that is trivial for me but seemingly insurmountable to a neophyte. Thus, either I have to go set up the network, or it doesn’t get set up at all. So these days, my advice is “just buy a USB keychain drive.” Of course that depends on your requirements, so let’s take a look at those:
The main reason for networking is concurrent access to a resource. I don’t see any concurrent access requirement in what you’ve said. Therefore, it sounds to me like a thumb drive/keychain drive is the thing for you. You can get a thumb-sized removable USB drive that holds 512MB for around $40… much cheaper in terms of time and money than a network.
You can graduate from removable storage to a home network when:
Two people in different parts of the house need access to the newest version of the same set of files at the same time.
You have to transfer files larger than the capacity of your removable storage device
You get an internet connection of a speed that is worth sharing.
You have another resource, such as a printer, that needs to be accessible from anywhere
If, for whatever other reason, you get tired of legging it around with your removable storage device
You decide networks are just so cool that you can’t hold back. I started my career this way.
Note: remember concurrency is the main attraction for networking… a dialup can be worth sharing if two people need to use it at the same time. Printers are worth sharing. I once ran an office of 40 people on a shared dialup connection. The amount of network traffic was small, but there was a high demand for concurrency.
Huh. I don’t meet any of these criteria–and I have a 128 MB keychain memory stick. Actually, I thought setting a network would be something like: “Stick plug DJ#3 into socket B7, initiate the synchronization drive, flip the pulldown poptart, and pull the ripcord.” Damn, any more complex and I expect NASA to take over.
I think I originally steered toward the network option because, um, I don’t fully understand the ins and outs of My Briefcase. :rolleyes: I’m afraid I’ll use it wrong and overwrite new with old.
I also hate having a telephone cord run to my laptop. I have several more lame objections, just give me time to upload them. On a serious note, the network option appeals. I hate falling further behind the technology curve.