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!
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.
Pretty much what I do - rather than calling it a guest laptop, I just say “Hey, you can use my old one…”
“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.
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.
Me too.
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.
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.
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.
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.