The LANtastic network has a suggested retail price of $699 for a two-machine starter kit of two Ethernet adapter boards, the software and 25 feet of cable. Each person also has access to the firm's two laser printers. They boot from a floppy and access software and data from one of the network's three file servers. Some of the PCs used as workstations don't even have a hard disk. My brother's accounting office uses LANtastic to link eight PCs. It has a suggested price of $99 per user plus the cost of hardware adapter boards. Novell's network, like LANtastic, is aimed at small businesses. Novell, the leading LAN vendor, has recently introduced its own peer-to-peer network called Novell Lite. Peer-to-peer networks save money because, unlike traditional local area networks, it isn't necessary to dedicate a computer to function as a central file server. There are ways to restrict access if necessary. Any machine attached to the network can be used as a "server" so that its files, printers and other equipment are available to other users. That's because LANtastic is a "peer-to-peer" network. Network users can even use each other's hard disks to back up data. It's cheaper to install a network than buy an extra laser printer or tape-backup system. Not too many people who work at home are likely to invest in their own "one-person area network." But it might make sense for any small business with two or more users. Now I no longer have to dance the floppy shuffle to move files between my two machines. Because I am using 386 computers with MS-DOS 5.0, the network software was able to load itself into "high memory," leaving the bulk of the 640k working memory available to run other software. The hardest part was removing and replacing the cases from the PCs. It took me less than an hour to get it working, plus a few more hours to fine-tune it. Not so if you use LANtastic, an inexpensive and easy-to-use local area network from Artisoft of Tucson, Ariz., (telephone: 293-6363.) I just installed LANtastic software and adapter boards in my two IBM-compatible PCs and I'm now sending files back and forth. Hook two or more together and you could be in for trouble. "LANs," as they are called, can be a scary proposition. Mention the phrase "local area network" and many personal computer users scramble for cover.
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June 2023
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