# is it wierd to have a guest laptop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346 "2014-10-04T04:03:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/21 "2014-10-04T14:55:13Z")
Something you might like to consider is getting a second wifi router and setting up a separate wireless network for your guests so that when they access the internet they cannot browse your network. More advanced routers can do this on their own. Top tip: set the IP range of the second router to something visibly different from the first. E.g. if one is 192.168… make the other 172.16… This makes sorting out problems much easier! ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/22 "2014-10-04T16:03:12Z")
Even though we all have smartphones, when I bought a Chromebook specifically to have on the kitchen table, I had all family members who visit the house regularly set up their own log-ins on it, as well as the general guest account, so that if they needed computer access while here, or to print something, I didn’t have to be here. It’s been great, until this week when the Chromebook refused to boot. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/23 "2014-10-04T18:23:59Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > But if we kept our old laptops, we’d probably do this! Pretty much what I do - rather than calling it a guest laptop, I just say “Hey, you can use my old one…” ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/24 "2014-10-06T15:58:49Z")
“Here, I’ve got an extra. It’s my old one. Knock yourself out.” Problem solved. I think people would be similarly weirded out if you invited them to use your “guest” bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/25 "2014-10-06T16:39:58Z")
I tend to hang onto my old computers and repurpose them. Currently, I have a spare laptop and a (very old) desktop available for general use. Also, if it’s for something they don’t mind being visible to others, they can use the media PCs. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/26 "2014-10-06T17:58:17Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > We have a guest account on our main computer. Serves the same purpose. But I think it is a great idea. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/27 "2014-10-06T17:59:55Z")
Have taken a spare laptop with a cracked screen and hooked it up to the big screen tv in the living room for this purpose. Put a wireless mouse and keyboard on the coffee table and done. Great for email, fantasy football, the granddaughter coming over and wanting to play disney games on their website or quick access to Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/28 "2014-10-06T21:22:43Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I can’t imagine going to someone’s house and wanting to check my email. Even when I visit my mother, I only go on the computer when she asks me to show her how to do something or fix something. > > Now, when I’m at the inlaws’ for several days in a row, I may borrow their computer a couple of times if I’m expecting a message or to verify a bill payment or some such, but that’s about it. > > Of course, I don’t use a smart phone either - heck, I mostly forget to even carry a cell phone when I go out. So it must be generational… I’m with you there. If I am going to be somewhere long enough to check e-mail, I’ll be there at least overnight. That means I’m already packing a bag. I’ll pack my laptop along with the rest. Then I just need a wi-fi password. I’ve always kind of assumed that other people would do the same. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/29 "2014-10-06T21:52:37Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Of course everybody has a smartphone, but the first time they want to use it I have to log in an authorize the MAC address. Just fyi, but MAC filtering is completely useless. I use to always use it myself, but while doing a lot of research on the new wireless router discovered how poor it is. There is no one on Earth who is capable of breaking even a modest WPA2 password who would be the slightest bit inconvenienced by MAC filtering. Along the same lines, not broadcasting the network name is actually worse than useless. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346/30 "2014-10-06T22:15:37Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I’m with you there. If I am going to be somewhere long enough to check e-mail, I’ll be there at least overnight. That means I’m already packing a bag. I’ll pack my laptop along with the rest. Then I just need a wi-fi password. > > I’ve always kind of assumed that other people would do the same. My club often has meetings at my place, and people find themselves wanting to reference emails, or show others documents, videos, and so forth. Even if they have a laptop with them, it’s often easier to use a machine that’s already online–especially for something they want to put on one of the big screens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wierd-to-have-a-guest-laptop/700346.md?page=1)